Five Suspects Named by Air Pollution Task Force

The Environment and Forestry (LHK) Ministry has formed a Task Force for Air Pollution Control in the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi (Jabodetabek) regions.

The task force will scrutinize all elements that have contributed to the worsening air quality in Jakarta and its surrounding cities. Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya appointed the ministry’s Law Enforcement Director-General Rasio Ridho Sani as the Task Force Chair.

Starting from Aug 17, the Task Force has deployed 100 technical personnel to conduct field investigations and law enforcement. They would inspect all sources of stationary air pollution, such as coal and diesel power plants (PLTU/PLTD), manufacturing industries, and open waste burning.

“Monitoring all sources of pollution is very important, not only to improve air quality but also to ensure the implementation of environmental protection and management regulations, including compliance with permits,” Siti Nurbaya said on Friday.

Minister Siti Nurbaya confirmed that the government is working seriously to handle and control air pollution in the Greater Jakarta area.

Proof that displayed the team meant business was by naming a director of a foreign investment company operating in the copper smelting sector located in Serang, Banten, and four operators who burnt electronic waste in Tangerang, Banten as suspects.

The team refused to elaborate further on the perpetrators’ further roles. It is widely believed that there is a massive window of possibility to find other suspects.