Vechicle emission crackdown planned citywide

JAKARTA (JP): The municipality and related agencies are to examine vehicle gas emissions as part of a citywide clean-air campaign.

The head of the city environment bureau, Aboejoewono Abuprajitno, told an environment-day press conference yesterday that the first phase of the operation, on June 11-13 and 18-20, will be carried out in six locations.

The campaign is part of a number of events in conjunction with World Environment Day, which falls on June 14.

"Officials from the city police and the city administration's offices will stop all vehicles in the locations to examine their gas emissions," Aboejoewono said.

The second stage will be held on Dec. 11-13 and 18-20 while the third will be conducted in June next year, he added.

Aboejoewono said he deemed the operation imperative because surveys on vehicle gas emissions, conducted since 1991, have not shown any improvement in the quality of the emissions.

"Therefore, the operation constitutes part of the efforts to implement gubernatorial decree No. 1222/1990, which stipulates that all vehicles in Jakarta are required to be subject to gas emission tests," he said.

A research study conducted by the city environment and study office in 1990/1991 showed that 67.1 percent of the city's pollution is caused by the transportation sector.

Another recent study, by the United Nations, also showed that Jakarta is the third most polluted city in the world after Mexico City and Bangkok.

And a research study conducted by the city's mass transit project office shows that each year about US$1 billion worth of gasoline is wasted by the city's traffic.

Aboejoewono said that in the first phase, each location is expected to examine 200 vehicles during the given time.

Aboejoewono said the parameters of the test are carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC) gases while other particles such lead, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) will not be tested.

"The vehicles fulfilling the requirements will be given green stickers and souvenirs, while those who fail will be given red stickers and three days to meet the requirements," he said.

Aboejoewono said to make sure the red-sticker vehicles fulfill the requirement the city police will record the number of the vehicles' documents.

"The city police will see whether the vehicles have fulfilled the requirements when the owners renew the documents," he said.

Aboejoewono added that the administration will also hold various activities to commemorate environment day, such as a public presentation on the environment, canoeing and traditional boat races.

"The governor has also issued a special instruction which prohibits city officials from smoking on May 31 in city administration offices," Aboejoewono said. (yns)