DPR Supports the Minister of LH to Sue the Pesticide Factory for the Cisadane River Pollution: There Must Be No Compromise

Illustration. The Cisadane River in South Tangerang after being contaminated with chemical pesticides. (ANTARA-HO-Tangerang City Government)

Member of Commission XII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Syafruddin, supports the Minister of Environment to sue the pesticide company suspected of being the culprit for the pollution of the Cisadane River in South Tangerang. He emphasized that environmental pollution, especially against the flow of the Cisadane River which is the source of people's livelihoods, cannot be tolerated in any form.

Syafruddin assessed that the legal steps planned by Hanif Faisol Nurofiq were strong signals that the state was present in protecting the public's right to a clean and healthy environment.

"We in Commission XII of the DPR RI fully support the lawsuit. The prosecution process must be carried out thoroughly, transparently, and accountable. Do not let there be any room for compromise against the polluters," said Syafruddin, Friday, February 13.

The PKB legislator also reminded law enforcement officials to ensure that the sanctions imposed are truly maximum and have a deterrent effect.

"Industrial practices that ignore environmental standards are a serious form of violation that directly impacts the health and livelihoods of residents," he said.

He also emphasized that the legal process should not ignore the responsibility for recovery and compensation to affected citizens. Syafruddin emphasized that the state must ensure that the rights of the community are fulfilled, including the restoration of water quality, environmental rehabilitation, and appropriate compensation.

"This case of pollution in the South Tangerang area is a reminder that supervision of the chemical and pesticide industries must be tightened," he said.

Syafruddin also encouraged the Ministry of Environment and Energy to conduct a thorough evaluation of the operational permits of similar companies so that similar incidents do not recur.

"Enforcement of environmental law must be a priority. This is not just about sanctions, but about the state's impartiality to the people and the sustainability of the ecosystem," he concluded.

Previously, Minister of Environment and Forestry Hanif Faisol Nurofid said that the government would sue the company and its area manager. The lawsuit will be taken through a civil law besides the criminal process which is currently handled by the police.

"From the perspective of the law, we will take it as intended in articles 87 and 90 of Law 32 of 2009. This may be a long story, because this water flows from the Jaletreng river to Cisadane about nine kilometers (km)," he said on the sidelines of directly reviewing the pesticide warehouse which had previously burned in Tangerang City, Friday, February 13.