Jakarta Optimizes Synergy for Handling Pollution

The Air Pollution Control Task Force under the Jakarta Provincial Government continues to speed up handling of air pollution.

We can all play an active role in protecting our environment

Air Pollution Control Task Force Speaker, Ani Ruspitawati stated progress in handling air pollution had been made as of Friday (9/29).

Her side had imposed administrative sanctions on companies that had the potential to pollute the air, namely seven coal stockpile companies, two coal-fired companies, and two steel smelting companies.

Task Force Keeps Monitoring Industrial Emission Sources in Jakarta

Of the seven coal stockpile companies, three were (PT Trada Trans Indonesia, PT Trans Bara Energy, and PT Bahana Indokarya Global), where they were temporarily suspended until they comply with environmental management regulations.

The same sanction was also given to a steel smelting company (PT Jakarta Central Asia Steel) for the reheating process and chimneys which did not yet have Technical Approval for Fulfilling Emission Quality Standards and a Certificate of Operational Worthiness.

As for two coal-fired companies (PT AAJ and PT BKP) conducted legal sampling of stationary source emissions (broiler chimneys).

Currently, the Jakarta Environmental Agency also continues to monitor and supervise industries, especially those that still use coal fuel in their operations, especially in administrative areas that have industrial areas, such as East Jakarta and North Jakarta. This supervision is also part of the socialization of the Jakarta Government's target, which by 2030 all industries in Jakarta must have low emissions.

She explained the progress of using water mist to reduce pollution levels. As of September 29, the number of water mist units installed was 125 units located in 109 buildings, both government and private buildings. 28 units of water mist were in process and would soon be operational to strengthen efforts to improve air quality.

As for the details of the number of buildings and water mist that have been installed, they were at Jakarta City Hall (two units), Central Jakarta (17 buildings with a total of 17 units), and North Jakarta (six buildings with a total of seven units).

There was also West Jakarta (32 buildings with a total of 47 units), South Jakarta (46 buildings with a total of 46 units), and East Jakarta (six buildings with a total of six units).

Regarding the watering of protocol roads by the Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency until September 28, it has been conducted in 290 locations throughout the Jakarta area, with 287 vehicles used and 1,128 firefighters deployed. The watering of these roads was conducted in parallel until the installation of water mist was carried out more widely.

In the emissions test campaign, as of September 29 at 8 AM, there were 1,104,609 four-wheeled vehicles and 117,644 two-wheeled vehicles that had undergone emissions tests. Emission test locations were available in 333 workshops for four-wheeled vehicles with a total of 938 technicians and 108 workshops for two-wheeled vehicles with a total of 189 technicians spread across various areas of Jakarta.

"Polda Metro Jaya also continues to synergize with the Jakarta Environmental Agency and PT Astra Internasional to hold free emissions tests in the context of Operation Zebra Jaya 2023 which took place at the Gelora Bung Karno Complex, last Wednesday (9/27). It is an additional target in the implementation of Operation Zebra Jaya 2023 by Polda Metro Jaya," she explained, in the Jakarta Government's press release.

Then parking disincentive rates had also been applied at 10 parking locations for vehicles that have not or have not passed the emissions test, and would gradually also be applied at parking locations managed by Perumda Pasar Jaya.

"In the initial stage, on October 1, parking disincentive rates will be applied at 24 out of 121 parking locations managed by Perumda Pasar Jaya. We do it gradually," she added.

To realize a Green Jakarta, the Jakarta Government continues to plant trees and plants in various areas. As for the progress of planting trees and plants which has been conducted from October 2022 to September 2023, 225,851 trees and 5,683,835 plants have been planted.

Not only that, the Jakarta Government also made a new Green Open Space (RTH) Development Plan in 2023 spread across 23 locations.

Regarding health facilities, Jakarta has alerted 44 community health centers at the sub-district level, 284 community health centers at the sub-district level and 31 regional hospitals. Sub-district health centers and regional hospitals can serve 24 hours.

"We invite all levels of society to work together to adopt clean and healthy living habits to deal with the impact of decreasing air quality. We can all play an active role in protecting our environment, keeping our air clean and healthy," she closed.