Coal Dust Still Spreads In Marunda, DKI Provincial Government Must Be Responsible For Citizens' Health

Residents clean coal dust (Dok/KPAI)

JAKARTA - Residents of the Marunda Flats, Cilincing, North Jakarta still feel the spread of coal dust. In fact, at this time the company responsible for air pollution has been given administrative sanctions by the DKI Provincial Government.

In the sanctions imposed on March 14, 2022, PT Karya Citra Nusantara (KCN) as the port management company is obliged to improve its environmental management and no longer pollute the environment.

Until now, coal dust can still be seen sticking to things in people's homes. This information was obtained by KPAI Commissioner Retno Listyarti. Residents are still complaining about the health effects caused by this pollution, such as respiratory problems, itching, and damage to the eyes.

Therefore, Retno asked the DKI Provincial Government to go directly to Marunda to check the health of the people who have been disturbed due to the impact of this air pollution.

"The DKI Jakarta Health Office is expected to be present at the Marunda Flats, checking the health of residents regularly. Because the government has not been present until now," said Retno to VOI, Sunday, March 20.

Not only that, Retno also urged the DKI Provincial Government to closely monitor the implementation of sanctions imposed on PT KCN by involving independent parties, such as the Forum for the Environment (Walhi) and the Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam).

"KPAI encourages supervision from the government and involves independent parties such as WALHI Jakarta and JATAM, regarding the implementation of the sanctions that have been imposed on PT KCN," said Retno.

For information, Marunda residents have started to feel this air pollution disturbance since 2018. The culprit is PT KCN, which is a port manager that has loading and unloading activities for solid and wet bulk commodities, including coal.

Until finally, the DKI Provincial Government reacted a few days ago. The DKI Environment Agency has imposed administrative sanctions on PT KCN. PT KCN was ordered to improve environmental management as many as 32 items.

The administrative sanctions include PT KCN having to build a 4 meter high embankment in the stockpile or coal stockpile area to prevent coal dust from carrying away during storage no later than 60 calendar days.

Then, PT KCN must function the pier 1 area of the southern Kade for loading and unloading of finished materials that do not have the potential to cause pollution other than coal loading and unloading activities no later than 14 calendar days.

PT KCN must cover with tarpaulin in the coal stockpiling area no later than 14 calendar days, PT KCN must clean up spilled CPO spills resulting from tank cleaning originating from loading and unloading activities of liquid bulk CPO ships no later than 14 calendar days.

PT KCN must carry out emergency response to liquid CPO spills that occur no later than 14 calendar days. PT KCN must increase the frequency and scope of watering to be more effective to prevent the appearance of fine dust remaining from coal loading and unloading activities no later than 7 calendar days.

PT KCN is obliged to continuously improve the handling and cleaning activities of spilled coal during loading and unloading activities of coal no later than 14 calendar days.

PT KCN is also required to provide truck wheel wash basins at the activity location no later than 30 calendar days. PT KCN must submit spilled coal mixed with mud resulting from the handling of spillage and dredged at sea which has been collected to a third party no later than 30 calendar days.

PT KCN is also obliged to stop pier 3 land filling activities using the rest of the spilled coal mixed with mud resulting from the handling of spillage and sea dredging and submit it to a third party no later than 14 calendar days.

Then, PT KCN is obliged to stop the spilled coal spills into the sea during loading and unloading due to the placement and amount of safety metal that is not in accordance with heavy equipment no later than 30 calendar days.