The Government's Seriousness In Overcoming Air Pollution Should Be Questioned

Air quality, especially in Jabodetabek, is concerning, but the government is still unmoved. (Between)

JAKARTA - Air pollution still lurks people in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi areas, although other cities in Indonesia are also not in better condition. In the midst of a situation that has not improved, the government is considered not serious in efforts to improve air quality, especially the Jabodetabek area.

In fact, air pollution has caused a number of problems, including an increase in cases of Acute Respiratory Channel Infection (ARI) which has soared in the past few months.

As we all know, the air quality index (AQI) in Jakarta and a number of other cities have been badly stable, starting last July.

This is definitely not an ideal condition for residents. And the public is even more angry because the government does not seem to be making serious efforts to deal with this disturbing pollution.

On an occasion in accordance with holding a limited meeting with President Joko Widodo at the State Palace, Jakarta, on August 14, the Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya said that air pollution was caused by long dryness and concentration of pollutants.

"There are several factors, including long dryness, then concentration of pollutants, then there are emissions and transportation including from industrial manufacturing," said Siti at the time.

Blaming the dry season as a cause of pollution is really not a solution. This is proof of the government 'washing hands' with the current situation. Recently, Polda Metro Jaya has eliminated the vehicle emission test ticket. The decision was taken because the vehicle emission test ticketing was deemed ineffective.

In fact, the vehicle emission test ticket is considered as one way to overcome pollution. Understandably, motorized vehicles are claimed to be one of the pollutions of air quality. According to records, in 2022 there were 24.5 million motorized vehicles and 19.2 million of them were motorcycles.

The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov) together with Polda Metro Jaya previously officially implemented an emission test ticket that was valid from September 1 to November 31, 2023. In the application of a ticket, drivers were given sanctions referring to Article 285 and Article 286 of Law Number 22 of 2009 concerning Road Traffic and Transportation.

Based on this regulation, motorcyclists who violate will be fined Rp. 250 thousand, while car drivers are Rp. 500 thousand. The ticket fine for the emission test is considered burdensome and has the opportunity to cause new problems.

A public policy observer from Trisakti University, Trubus Rahardiansyah, regretted the decision to cancel the emission test ticket. According to him, the existence of sanctions will actually force the public to realize the importance of emission testing.

"The emission test ticket was canceled because it said the sanctions were burdensome. In fact, with the sanctions, the community will carry out emission tests. Well, if not, the sanctions are like this, people don't want to test emissions," Trubus said when contacted by VOI.

Ideally it is still being carried out (emission test ticket), because if you only rely on public awareness, our community loyalty is very low.

To 'help' drivers who object to the existence of emission test ticketing, Trubus said the government should have a solution, instead of being eliminated altogether. Providing subsidies to those who are not able to afford it can help people who are subject to emission test tickets.

"The governor's regulation has regulated this emission test, so why not implement it? If there are people who can't afford it, they should be able to go to the referral workshop and get a subsidy. For example, if they have tested three times but do not pass, then a solution must be given by being referred to the designated workshop," Trubus added.

The government also calls on the public to switch to public transportation, as was done during the inauguration of the LRT some time ago. Using public transportation can reduce greenhouse emissions, so that air pollution can be slightly resolved.

But Trubus said that for now it is difficult to invite people to use public transportation. It's nothing, the condition of public transportation is still far from expectations, one of which is that it has not been integrated. This makes people reluctant to look at mass transportation.

"The existence of public transportation is inadequate, it is not enough to accommodate the community. Moreover, public transportation has not been integrated. On the one hand, public transportation in the buffer zone is also still using fossil fuels, so it is necessary to rejuvenate," he added.

The government's seriousness in overcoming pollution was also questioned after they filed an appeal against the decision of the Central Jakarta District Court which stated that the four parties sued by the Advocacy Team for the Air Cleaning Initiative of the Universe Coalition (Mamkota) had committed unlawful acts related to the handling of air pollution. This was confirmed by the Jakarta High Court on October 17, 2022.

In this case, the defendants included President Joko Widodo, Minister of Environment and Forestry, Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Health, and Governor of DKI Jakarta. In addition, the defendant includes the Governor of Banten and the Governor of West Java.

Trubus Rahardiansyah alluded to the government, which he said was too considering the costandbenefit theory. Or in other words, consider whether the budget spent to tackle air pollution is comparable to the benefits obtained.