Government to set up commission on environment

The government will set up a commission on environmental impact in a bid to control the growing pollution in mining and industrial sector. In addition, the government will also form an environmental inspectorate that will function as the environmental police, Kompas reported on Thursday.

State Minister for Environmental Affairs Sonny Keraf said on Wednesday the commission and police on environmental affairs would be formed as the follow-up of the government's regulation No 54, 1999, which was issued to ensure a sufficient protection on environment.

"The environmental commission and inspectorate would be established next year, involving the government officials and the private sector including informal leaders," the minister told a hearing with members of the House of Representatives (DPR).

He said that the commission's activities would be supported by adequate laboratory equipment to ensure that validity of the complaints and charges over violations of environmental regulations in certain industries.

"With the laboratory facility, we hope there will more dispute related to the level of pollution in certain companies," he said, hoping that the establishment of the commission and inspectorate would be able to provide a sufficient control on the growing pollution in the country.

He said his office had often been charged with being toothless in dealing with the violations due to inadequate supporting facilities. (*)