Visitor complain about pollution

Visitor complain about pollution

BOGOR: Visitors to the Bogor Botanical Gardens have complained about the pollution from vehicles that enter the compound.

"It is no longer comfortable. It is unlike in the past, when it was tranquil and we could breathe fresh air. Now, with many cars entering here, there is lots of dust and vehicle emissions," Yustina, a resident of Cibuluh village in West Bogor, said last week.

"A conservation area like this should be free from pollution. Vehicle pollution will kill the plants," she added.

Data from the botanical garden shows that from January to May this year, 10,375 cars entered the garden compound.

Plant Conservation Center head Dedi Darnaedi said he was unsure if the pollution affected the plants.

"The vehicular pollution disturbs people more than the plants. In the long run, it might affect the plants. But we need to research it first," he said.

Gardens finance manager Amas said that since 1987, each car had to pay an Rp 10,000 entrance fee.

Amas said the botanical gardens would soon provide three pollution-free vehicles called Marlip, designed by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI). It will take visitors around the gardens for Rp 10,000 per person.

Separately, head of the Environment Research Center of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture, Soeryo Adi Wibowo, said vehicular emissions had damaged the aesthetics of the botanical gardens but was not asked about the impact of the pollution on the plants. --JP