Warga Marunda Jakut, Dinas Lingkungan Hidup DKI Falls Officersuri Sumber Debu Hitam Pekat

Workers operate heavy equipment when loading and unloading coal at PT Karya Citra Nusantara Port (KCN), Marunda, Jakarta/ANTARA

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Environmental Agency (DLH) has deployed officers to trace the source of the dust that has again polluted residential areas in the Marunda area, North Jakarta. "We have started to go down and further deepen where the source came from," said DKI Jakarta DLH Public Relations Officer Yogi Ikhwan in Jakarta, Antara, Wednesday, September 7. Yogi explained that the team is currently still reviewing the emergence of dust in the Marunda area. He estimates that the dust carried to residential areas is also driven by the wind. Even so, he continued, KCN is currently emptying coal stockpiles for 90 days. Yogi added that the company was no longer operating its activities as a loading and unloading port after the DKI Provincial Government revoked the environmental permit. "If KCN's operations are no longer operating as a port, but indeed there are still stock pile emptying activities (coal hoarding)," he added. Previously, residents living in the Marunda Village area, Cilincing, North Jakarta again complained about dust polluting their home environment until they arrived at the Situng Home area since Saturday, September 3. One of the residents of Marunda, Cecep Supriadi, said that thick black dust has polluted the environment since Saturday. "It was Saturday that the dust entered from morning to noon. Until now, there is still a lot of dust," said local resident Cecep to reporters in North Jakarta, Monday, September 5. Cecep said the dust settles to the floor and pollutes the settlement after previously blowing strong winds. According to Cecep, residents have reported the alleged dust pollution from the coal pile in Marunda Port to the North Jakarta Environmental Service Sub-dept. and are still waiting for follow-up. In early June 2022, the environmental permit of three companies that manage coal near the area was revoked by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Environment Agency.