Four Years Being The Perpetrator Of Coal Dust Pollution In Marunda, PT KCN's Permit Finally Revoked

Illustration/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government revoked the environmental permit for the operational activities of PT Karya Citra Nusantara as the perpetrator of coal dust pollution in Marunda Flats, Cilincing, North Jakarta. The imposition of this severe sanction was carried out after the residents of Marunda Flats felt the impact of pollution four years ago.

Marunda residents began 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.

This air pollution causes serious diseases to its citizens. Now, there are three residents who suffer from corneal ulcer disease which is strongly suspected due to the coal dust pollution in Marunda. Residents' settlements are often polluted by dust that flies to the surface.

In fact, for a long time, residents have reported their complaints to the local lurah and the mayor of North Jakarta. However, as of Sunday, March 13, residents had not yet received a solution to the air pollution originating from the port business entity.

Until finally, the DKI Provincial Government reacted. On Monday, March 14, the DKI Environment Agency imposed an administrative sanction on PT KCN because it was proven to have polluted coal dust in loading and unloading activities which caused losses for the residents of Marunda.

In giving the sanction, the port management company was ordered to improve its environmental management and not pollute the environment through 32 follow-up items.

"It is hoped that by carrying out the sanctions properly according to the stipulated time period, the management of the environment will be better and not pollute the environment," said Head of the North Jakarta Environmental Agency, Achmad Hariadi on Tuesday, March 15.

After 90 days of imposing administrative sanctions, it turns out that the residents of Marunda are still feeling the contamination of coal dust. Of the 32 sanctions points imposed by the DKI Provincial Government, it turns out that only 4 sanctions points have been followed up by PT KCN.

Finally, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government through the DKI Jakarta Environmental Service revoked the operational permit for PT Karya Citra Nusantara (KCN) for the case of coal dust pollution in Marunda Flats, North Jakarta.

The head of the DKI Jakarta Environmental Agency, Asep Kuswanto, said that the revocation of the permit was carried out due to not completing the administrative sanctions imposed on the loading and unloading company as the perpetrator of the air pollution.

"The revocation of this permit is because PT KCN has not fulfilled its obligations in the administrative sanctions imposed by the government Number 12 of 2022 on March 14, 2022," said Asep in his statement, Monday, June 20.

Meanwhile, Head of the North Jakarta Environmental Agency, Achmad Hariadi said, in the decision to revoke the environmental permit, PT KCN was ordered to stop all loading and unloading activities.

"With the stipulation of this decree, the environmental permit for loading and unloading activities by PT Karya Citra Nusantara is declared invalid," said Hariadi.