Caltex's contractor charged with dumping toxic waste in Riau village

PT Inti Jatam Pura, a contractor of PT Caltex Pasific Indonesia (CPI) in Riau, has allegedly dumped toxic industrial waste in Pinggir village in Bangkalis, one of regencies in Riau province, Riau Pos reported on Tuesday.

M. Darna, a member of the legislative council in Bengkalis, said he would propose the council to establish a special team to investigate the allegation. "If it is true, the company's activities to dump toxic waste in the Pinggir village could not be tolerated," he added.

He also called on Caltex to impose a penalty on the company because if the company received no punishment, other firms could also follow its irresponsible activities.

Darna said that he would also ask the local office of the government-sanctioned Industrial Impact Management Agency (Bapedal) to probe the allegation. "We hope the special team to be established by the local council will be able to cooperate with Bapedal to carry out a joint investigation on the company," he added. (*)