Heru Opens Public Discussion to Formulate Air Quality Handling Policy

Jakarta Acting Governor, Heru Budi Hartono opened a public discussion entitled, 'Quick Response for Handling Air Quality in Jakarta' at Shangrila Hotel, Central Jakarta, Monday (8/28).

As we are aware, Jakarta needs support to handle air pollution

The discussion was attended by representatives of the Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Ministry, Environment and Forestry Ministry, Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics Council (BMKG), Polda Metro Jaya, academics, civil society organizations, to influencers.

In this activity initiated by the Environment Agency, the Acting Governor said air pollution had become a crisis that occurred not only in Jakarta but also in the surrounding areas. The synergy between supporting regions was needed, such as Depok, Bekasi, South Tangerang, Tangerang, and Bogor, to find the best solution.

Together with Staff, Acting Governor Heru Tests Ride Jabodebek LRT

"As we are aware, Jakarta needs support to handle air pollution. Together, we listen and share suggestions from the results of this discussion. It aims to be a bright spot in reducing pollution in Greater Jakarta, as the area affected is quite large," he explained, in the Jakarta Provincial Government's press release.

Regarding solutions, the Jakarta Government is carrying out law enforcement through emission raids that must meet quality standards for moving emissions, as well as controlling industries that do not conduct maintenance and management of chimneys for stationary emissions.

"We have also conducted emission tests which will continue to be gradually intensified on motor vehicles. This is due to information from the Transportation Agency (Dishub) that the number of vehicles entering Jakarta is 997,000 units per day from the Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi areas. This is our common concern to implement an emission test and the vehicle must pass the test," he added.

His party also applied a scientific approach in the form of the Weather Modification Technique (TMC), namely by spraying water from the tops of tall buildings with a high-pressure pump or water mist generator.

"All buildings belonging to the Jakarta Government, BUMN, and BUMD have been called to install water mist generators, especially tall buildings," he explained.

Even, Jakarta also has an Air Pollution Control Grand Design (GDPPU) which will later be determined to become an Air Pollution Control Strategy (SPPU) as a guide for the Jakarta Government in controlling air pollution in Jakarta until 2030.

"The next step is to streamline air pollution control by the mandate of laws and regulations, which cover the five aspects of clean energy, low emission technology, spatial planning and governance, emission standards, and law enforcement," he added.

Jakarta Environment Agency Head, Asep Kuswanto uttered that the public discussion was held as a form of the Jakarta Government's quick response to restoring air by involving the community. Some 200 people from various elements of society attended the discussion both online and offline.

"The Jakarta Government hopes to receive input from all parties, it will become a joint commitment to improve air quality, both in the short and long term," he closed.