Rasio Rido Sani, Chairman of the Air Pollution Control Task Force at KLHK.
JAKARTA, JAKTIMES.COM – Over the past few weeks, the air quality in Jakarta and its surrounding areas has deteriorated due to pollution. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) has initiated the deployment of an Air Pollution Control Task Force.
They have been assigned to oversee and take action against stationary sources of pollution such as power plants, industries, open burning of waste, electronic waste, and others, particularly in the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jabodetabek) regions.
“The Air Pollution Control Task Force from KLHK deployed for today’s monitoring operation consists of more than 100 environmental monitoring and impact control officials,” said Rasio Rido Sani, Chairman of the Air Pollution Control Task Force at KLHK during the inaugural assembly of the Air Pollution Control Task Force at Plaza Manggala Wanabakti on Monday, August 21, 2023.
Following the inaugural assembly, the Task Force will conduct monitoring at various points in Jabodetabek, such as Marunda, Cakung, Kelapa Gading, Bekasi, and the Karawang border.
He also emphasized that if violations are detected during this monitoring, they will take decisive actions, including stopping activities that contribute to air pollution.
“If during this monitoring task, the officers clearly visually observe air pollution, then they can take immediate actions on-site or report to the head/leader of the task force for support in taking action,” he stated firmly.
In addition to on-site penalties, the Task Force will also take other legal measures, including imposing administrative sanctions, and if necessary, pursuing civil and criminal legal actions.
In the context of these legal enforcement efforts, the field operations team will cover various aspects, including Supervision and Enforcement of Motor Vehicle Emission Compliance; Supervision and Enforcement of Power Plant Emission Compliance (PLTU/PLTD, Independent Power Plants); Supervision and Enforcement of Manufacturing Compliance; Supervision and Enforcement of Coal Stockpile Compliance; Supervision and Enforcement of Open Burning Compliance; Law Enforcement and Legal Enforcement as well as the application of Information Systems, Standards, and Media Communication. In line with this, parallel efforts such as community tree planting using government-provided seedlings and weather modification techniques will also be conducted.
“We are taking these firm steps as a commitment from the government, in this case, KLHK, which is a direct instruction from Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya to restore air quality,” added Rasio.
The Task Force was established through Minister of Environment and Forestry Decree No. SK.929/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/8/2023 regarding the Work Steps for Handling and Controlling Air Pollution in the Jabodetabek Region. They will implement several measures to control air pollution through 7 working steps, namely: First, identifying sources of air pollution in the Jabodetabek region.
Second, monitoring vehicle exhaust emissions by gradually implementing emission tests starting from Ministries/Agencies (K/L) and Provincial and District/City Governments in the Jabodetabek region. Third, promoting tree planting activities to mitigate air pollution.
Fourth, supervising compliance with permits and regulations for stationary sources, including power plants (PLT/PLTD, independent power plants), manufacturing, waste burning, electronic waste burning, coal stockpiles, through evaluation, clarification, and field inspections.
Fifth, law enforcement including administrative sanctions and civil and criminal legal sanctions against businesses and/or activities that violate Emission Standards according to the provisions of laws and regulations.
Sixth, the application of weather modification technology (TMC) under specific conditions based on evaluations such as geomorphological conditions and “street canyons” as needed. Seventh, providing guidance, oversight, coordination, and supervision to Provincial and District/City Governments in the Jabodetabek region, both in a hierarchical manner and directly as needed in the “secondline enforcement” system.
Rasio also revealed that this task force will continue to work continuously as long as air quality remains poor, especially in the Jabodetabek region.
He also urged the field officers to perform their duties professionally and ensure safety at all times.
“Our ultimate goal is to ensure that every individual has the right to a good and healthy environment, including the right to clean and healthy air,” concluded Rasio.
Present at the Air Pollution Control Task Force assembly were the Director General of Environmental Pollution Control of KLHK as the Daily Chairman of the Task Force, the Director of Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Waste Management of KLHK, the Director of Air Pollution Control of KLHK, and the Head of the Public Relations Bureau of KLHK (Wan).
