West Java denies responsibility for pollution

West Java denies responsibility for pollution

BANDUNG (JP): West Java Governor R. Nuriana insisted his
administration was not responsible for the mercury that is said
to have contaminated Cisadane River, whose water finds its way
into homes across Jakarta.

Speaking to reporters here on Saturday, Nuriana said a
shortage of employees prevented his office from stopping the
illegal gold mining on Cipongkor Mountain in Bogor. These miners
have been accused of playing a significant role in the
contamination of Cisadane River.

"The illegal miners are indeed my residents but it's difficult
to take any legal measures against them because we don't have
enough officials.

"It would be easier to take legal action if the pollution was
committed by, (for example), state-owned mining firm PT Aneka
Tambang," Nuriana said.

He was referring to the company which possesses a 4,058-
hectare gold mining concession in Cipongkor.

There are as many as several hundred people working as illegal
gold miners on Cipongkor Mountain. Some come from as far away as
villages in Lampung, Sumatra.

Most of the illegal miners use mercury to process the gold ore
in the nearby Cisadane River.

Several dailies reported on Wednesday that water samples from
the river, which flows from Bogor through Tangerang, west of
Jakarta, showed mercury levels at 3.33 parts per billion (ppb).
The maximum level considered still safe is less than one ppb.

Nuriana said his administration had banned illegal mining on
Cipongkor, which has also been the site of a number of deaths due
to landslides at the illegal mines.

"It has become a national problem. The central government
should step up its law enforcement activities against the illegal
miners," he said.

Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso demanded on Thursday the West Java
administration be responsible for the pollution in Cisadane
River, which is one of Jakarta's water sources.

"The West Java administration should prevent its residents
from damaging the environment because it will effect Jakarta
residents," he told reporters at City Hall.

Sutiyoso also asked PT Pam Lyonaisse Jaya (Palyja) to take the
necessary precautions. Palyja provides tap water to residents in
the western part of Jakarta and uses Cisadane River as its water
source.

City spokesman Muhayat said the case served as a warning sign
for all residents, although the exact level of pollution in the
river has yet to be determined.

"Palyja will test the water samples at its French headquarters
to determine the level of the water pollution. It will need three
days to get the results," he said, adding that the city
administration would await the test result before taking any
further action.

"We will coordinate with the West Java administration as soon
as we have the test results," he said. (05/25)