Minister Of Environment And Forestry Reveals 26 Cemari Sungai Ciujung Serang Companies, 4 Affected Districts

Minister of Environment and Forestry Hanif Faisol Nurofiq (central) together with the Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions Yandri Susanto (right) sealed the waste treatment site for paper factories in Kragilan, Serang, Friday (8/11/2024). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Environment (LH) Hanif Faisol Nurofiq revealed that 26 companies were indicated to pollute the Ciujung River, Serang Regency.

According to him, this waste pollution has an impact on hundreds of thousands of residents in four sub-districts flowed by the Ciujung River, namely Tanara, Tirtayasa, Carenang, and Lebakwangi.

"At least this initial data has 26 companies that we are indicative of contributing to the quality of the Ciujung River," he said in Serang Regency, Friday, November 8, which was confiscated by Antara.

He said the company's data indicated to pollute the environment was obtained based on drone mapping and satellite imagery.

Of the 26 companies indicated, he and his entourage as well as the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions have conducted inspections of two factories in the Kragilan area engaged in pulp and paper.

His party also sealed the illegal waste treatment site from the two industries.

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry has sealed a 42 hectare waste disposal site, with a projection of two million tons in one factory area, as well as other locations with half a hectare of waste spread adjacent to the river body.

Hanif ordered the two companies to conduct environmental audits.

As a law enforcement measure, he also sealed landfills without a permit around the factory environment.

He said it was possible for the company to be criminally entangled as mandated by Articles 98 and 103 of Law (UU) Number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management (PPLH).

"I think we must take corrective steps together to provide a sense of security to the environment of all people in Indonesia," he said.

His party encouraged the provincial government and district governments to be more aware and take firm steps against environmental pollution.

"Our presence in the field will raise awareness that the government is really concrete to see directly in the field. At least in the early days, the Minister of Villages and I had to map locations with our own eyes," he said.

He explained about the implementation of policies taken related to the environment.

"So that when we take policies at the top level we can understand whether this policy can be implemented, then what kind of risk will we understand clearly," he said.