The authority decided to instruct the Balaraja Sub-district-based company to stop work after it failed to meet the requisite criteria for environmental protection, the district head explained.
"During several tests and daily production, the factory continues to emit dangerous pollutants in the form of ashes and unpleasant odours that might harm the residents. The company's storage facility shortage has additionally caused hazardous dust to be emitted to the residents' neighbourhood," Iskandar noted in his statement received in Tangerang on Saturday.
The warning letter instructs the company to cease operations and delay operational testing to improve and enhance its environmental management and air pollution control system, he remarked.
"We have instructed the company to construct a silo to store its materials and then equip the structure with an emission control chimney and facilities necessary to conduct emission tests as well as designate transportation and safety equipment to take the sample," the district head expounded.
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The authority also instructed PT SLI to conduct planting activities around the factory's perimeter to reduce the levels of dust and prevent unpleasant odours from spreading to the surrounding neighbourhood, he noted.
"The company is instructed to report all improvement measures taken with the company management signature affixed on the report," Iskandar stated.
Meanwhile, Ayyuk Kadriah, an advocate for the residents of Cengkok Village affected by PT SLI activities, lauded the district head's firm stance to defend the residents' interests.
"The district head is not only focusing on the economic aspect but also understanding the necessity for ecology and social justice," the advocate stressed.
Iskandar's letter has firmly instructed the company to cease operations that pollute the environment, Kadriah noted while adding that the district head had also affixed the silo structural plan that the company is obliged to set up.
"Unfortunately, we perceive the company as not being sincere in following the instruction. The company must not only seek profits but also ensure that the residents living outside the factory would not be affected," Kadirah remarked.
A recent inspection conducted by the Tangerang District Environment Office and the sub-district authority to check the actions taken by the company for improvement concluded that measures taken were insufficient to allow the company to restart its activities, he emphasized.
The inspection exposed the need for improvements in the management of silo, chimney, and production material, according to the advocate.
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Translator: Azmy Syamsul M, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
