Received River Pollution Report Due To Palm Oil Waste, DLH Mukomuko Checks Field

Head of the Mukomuko Regency Environment Agency Budi Yanto, Friday (2/8/2024). ANTARA/Ferri.

MUKOMUKO - The Environment Agency (DLH) of Mukomuko Regency, Bengkulu Province, immediately checked reports about the pollution of the Betung River in Teruntung Village, Teras Terunjam District, which is suspected to be due to the waste of PT Agro Muko's palm oil mill in the area. "We checked in the field, where the location of the river reported by BPD Teruntung was polluted by the company's factory waste," said Head of the Mukomuko Regency Environmental Service Budi Yanto in Mukomuko, Antara, Friday, August 2. He said this was following up on a report from the Terunjam Village Consultative Body (BPD), Teras District, related to the alleged pollution of Betung River water due to the waste of the palm oil mill. His party will involve various related parties in this area in checking river water which is suspected of being polluted by oil palm mill waste from oil palm plantation companies. "We invite the reporting party. Because he must be responsible for his report, including the company to jointly check the river water, which is polluted by oil palm mill waste," he said. According to him, the presence of all parties aims to make this checking open and transparent, including the media crew who are also invited to check the river water. He said it was related to existing technicalities, how about factory waste, how to report, including the flow, there are no problems with being given recommendations. Regarding the extension of the waste disposal permit, he said, the One Stop Integrated Investment and Licensing Office issued the permit. Meanwhile, DLH's job, he said, was to check the field to see how the waste was, and ensure that there was no deposition and silting of the waste pond. Then, his party also saw reports of laboratory results to find out whether waste was below the quality standard or not.

He said that the samples besides the polluted river water included the dead species in the river.