Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Environment said that it is continuing to take steps to address the issue of air pollution, including enforcing laws against pollution sources.Director of air quality protection and management at the ministry, Edward Nixon Pakpahan, informed that air pollution is caused by various emitting contributors, such as vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and open burning of waste.
"The directives from the Environment Minister are clear regarding air pollution prevention and management, which involve quick and accurate steps to identify potential sources and implement real handling measures, ranging from persuasive, preventive, to enforcement," he said.
He disclosed that for the Greater Jakarta area, his side has coordinated with local governments to implement preventive measures and manage air pollution, including supervising industrial operational activities in respective regions.
Pakpahan added that cross-agency coordination has been carried out to roll out vehicle emission tests, especially for heavy vehicles in industrial areas in Jakarta.
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The collaboration involved the Jakarta provincial government, the Ministry of Transportation, and the National Police.
The Environment Ministry is also cooperating with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) and state oil and gas firm Pertamina to gradually transition to low-sulfur gasoline and diesel fuel equivalent, in line with Euro-4 standards, in the Greater Jakarta area and nationwide.
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"Environmental law enforcement has been carried out in the form of sealing and halting operations at several metal smelting industrial activities in Tangerang," he informed.
He added that the ministry has been tasked with monitoring and realizing healthy air quality, which is an absolute expectation of all people, both in Greater Jakarta and nationally.