Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) has said it is closely monitoring 32 industries that are suspected to be contributing to air pollution in the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Greater Jakarta) areas.

Director General of Environmental and Forestry Law Enforcement at the ministry, Rasio Ridho Sani, said here on Friday that the 32 industries range from coal stockpiles, companies that own coal-fired power plants, boiler operators, manufacturing companies, cement plants, to metal smelters.

"We have processed administrative sanctions for 9 of the 32 industrial firms, while we are still collecting evidence from 2 firms, and have installed signposts to terminate the operations of 13 firms," he informed.

Sani, who is serving as chair of the Greater Jakarta Air Pollution Control Task Force, said the 32 industries are spread across 10 regions. Two industries are located in East Jakarta, five industries in North Jakarta, one industry in Bekasi district, and four industries in Bogor district.

Then, there are three industries in Karawang, one in Tangerang District, four in Bekasi city, one in Bogor city, three in Tangerang city, and eight industries in South Tangerang city.

In addition to supervising them, the ministry is also monitoring communities carrying out open burning and has installed warning signposts at 57 locations to discourage the practice.

"We are carrying out efforts to prevent open burning in collaboration with local governments, especially the environmental offices in Greater Jakarta," Sani said.

Based on Article 98 Paragraph 1 of Law No. 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management, persons who carry out intentional acts of causing air pollution can be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years of jail and invite a maximum fine of Rp10 billion.

If the activity causes injury or health hazards, then the sentence is a maximum jail time of 12 years and a maximum fine of Rp12 billion.

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Translator: Sugiharto P, Kenzu
Editor: Sri Haryati
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