Penambuah Aki Bekas Disbursement, Acting Regent Of Bogor Ordered Satpol PP Sidak To 3 Locations This Month

Illustration of the place for smelting or burning used battery. (Between)

BOGOR - Acting Regent of Bogor, Iwan Setiawan promised to immediately resolve the problem of air pollution due to burning used battery which has the potential to cause lead poisoning for children.

"The Bogor Regency Government is asked to support action steps starting from the stages of study, implementation and also post-implementation with concrete actions," he said in Cibinong, Bogor Regency, West Java, Monday, October 10.

According to him, this effort is a follow-up to a meeting between the Bogor Regency Government (Pemkab) together with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) and UNICEF in Cibinong, on Friday 7 October.

He said that at the meeting it was revealed about the dangers of smelting used battery that caused pollution because its waste was classified as hazardous and toxic (B3) material.

Therefore, he continued, the Bogor Regency Government immediately moved to three regions this October.

Iwan admitted that he had assigned the Satpol PP not to tolerate used battery burning activities and to take firm action with sanctions of closing its activities through the Babat Non-Aligned Program (No drugs).

"There are still other more useful business activities, which do not produce waste that has an impact on humans, especially children. The state is obliged to protect children as the next generation of the nation," said Iwan.

The Head of Planning for UNICEF Indonesia, Silas Rapold added, one of the sources of pollution is produced from recycling used battery and paint. According to him, exposure to lead pollution can endanger children.

"Especially for children, the impact is even greater than for adults. The biggest example is the decrease in a permanent IQ, and also for adults who are pregnant," he said.

Currently, UNICEF is working with the Government of Indonesia to support the government's commitment to prevent lead exposure in Indonesia.

Based on the results of field research conducted by the Pure F Indonesia Foundation and the Institute of Technology on November 10, they saw that there were lead contamination in the soil in various areas of Java and Sumatra.

The research was then combined with other criteria, including the commitment of local governments and the community to face high risk of lead.

"There are five locations that face high challenges. Finally, two areas, namely Bogor and Tegal regencies, are priority locations," said Silas.