Highlights Residents Still Burning Garbage In The Midst Of Jakarta's Bad Air Pollution, DPRD: Reprimanded And Even Scolded

A working meeting with the ranks of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government at the DKI Jakarta DPRD building, Tuesday, August 22 (DOK VOI/Diah Ayu)

Deputy Chairman of Commission D of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, Nova Harivan Paloh, questioned the extent to which the DKI Provincial Government is controlling air quality in the midst of poor pollution in the capital city. One of them, there are still residents who burn garbage in their residential environment. When reprimanded, these residents did not accept it. Nova got this from reports from the public in his constituency. "There are still many residents who burn garbage. They are reprimanded and even scolded," Nova said in a working meeting with the ranks of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government at the DKI Jakarta DPRD building, Tuesday, August 22. Then, Nova also mentioned the problem of coal dust polluting the Rusunawa Marunda area. The DKI Provincial Government had previously given administrative sanctions to the polluting company. However, it turns out that the coal dust pollution is still attacking residents. In addition, Nova said that the DKI Provincial Government has had a basis for regulations regarding controlling Jakarta's air quality since 2019, one of which is initiating the motor vehicle emission test program. However, Nova admitted that he was surprised why the DKI Provincial Government had just carried it out intensively when Jakarta's air pollution was getting worse. "Regarding vehicle emissions, why is it only now being heralded that we have a regional regulation and a governor's regulation?" Nova said. Responding to this, the Head of the DKI Jakarta Environmental Agency, Asep Kuswanto, admitted that his party continues to take legal action against residents who burn garbage. The action was carried out with the Satpol PP on public reports. "So every time there is a garbage burning complaint, we will definitely follow up on it. Even though the garbage burning has been completed, we meet the person concerned and we will indeed impose sanctions," said Asep.

Referring to Regional Regulation Number 3 of 2013 concerning Waste Management, residents are prohibited from burning garbage that pollutes the environment. If this is done, the person concerned can be subject to a fine of up to IDR 500 thousand. So far, Asep continued, residents who are caught burning garbage are subject to a fine of Rp. 100,000 to Rp. 300 thousand. "Because there is a regulation on the imposition of sanctions. As far as I remember yesterday, the residents were Rp. 100,000 to Rp. 300 thousand. Indeed, it is still a deterrent effect," added Asep.