Regarding The Poor Air Quality Of The Capital City, Acting Governor Heru: It's A Heavy Jakarta Burden

JAKARTA - Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono admitted that the problem of air pollution in the capital city is a tough challenge for the government. Until now, the poor air quality in Jakarta has not been resolved.

Heru explained that the main reason for the high air pollution in his area is the use of motorized vehicles belonging to Jabodetabek residents who are active every day.

This was conveyed by Heru in the discussion of the Merdeka Barat 9 Forum entitled Road to ASEAN Summit which raised the theme "ASEAN Smart City, Quality of Life" which was held online.

"In the last 1.5 years, the four-wheeled vehicles have gone from 4 million to 6 million now. Likewise, two-wheeled vehicles from 14 million to 16 million. The one with plate B, it's Jabodetabek and almost all of them enter Jakarta. So, Jakarta's burden is heavy," said Heru, Tuesday, August 8.

Although there is a contribution to the use of vehicles from outside the region, Heru emphasized that this does not reduce the responsibility of the DKI Provincial Government in controlling air pollution.

One of the efforts is to add electric bus vehicles with a target of 100 buses for the next 2 years. Then, the DKI Provincial Government began to gradually divert official vehicles to electric power.

"Then the DKI Regional Government grows trees every Friday. Likewise for me, if you are free, every Tuesday and Friday you grow trees. It's a long generation, maybe now it's not felt," explained Heru.

"Next, using the mass transportation that has been built by the DKI Regional Government and the central government, so as to reduce congestion and reduce air emissions in Jakarta," he added.

The poor air quality in Jakarta continues to be highlighted and complained to residents. Now, the air quality index in Jakarta is never less than 100. This means that the air quality in Jakarta is not healthy. The number 101-200 indicates that air quality levels can affect human health or animals with sensitive body conditions.

Meanwhile, the 2.5 percent matter (PM) standard in Jakarta is always higher than the WHO standard. PM 2.5 is a pollutant of air quality, a dust particle measuring 2.5 microns.

PM2.5 sources are very diverse, usually from motor vehicle fuel smoke, power generation smoke, industrial processes, and cigarettes.