Govt takes over handling of Lapindo?s mudflow problem

The government has decided to take over the technical handling of PT Lapindo Brantas Inc. mudflow problem in Sidoarjo Regency, East Java because the spew of the hot mud started four months ago has yet to show signs of abating, Koran Tempo reported Tuesday.

?The central government has officially set up a team in charge of handling Sidoarjo?s mud problem,? minister of energy and mineral resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said following a meeting at Vice Presidential office in Jakarta Monday.

Presidential Decree No. 13, 2006 on September 8. legalized the team whose task was to coordinate small teams that were previously led by Lapindo

He asserted that despite the taking over of the handling of Lapindo?s mudflow problem by the government, Lapindo should be held responsible for rebuilding environment (facilities) damaged by the mudflow and overcoming the social issues arising from the Lapindo?s case.

The government appointed Basuki Hadi Muljono, head of research and development agency of the public work ministry, as chairman of the executive team, with energy and mineral resources minister chairing a board whose primary task is to provide directives for the team.

Team members include minister of public work, minister of marine and fishery, minister of environment, East Java governor, and head of East Java police office.

Purnomo said that the team had one week to draw up a plan regarding the clogging up of the mud sources and the handling of social impacts of the mudflow case.

As the team leader Basuki said that the team would focus on efforts to safeguard community and economy considering that the possible success of halting the spew sources was only 10 percent.

Meanwhile, Lapindo has finally dumped into the river water extracted from the Sidoarjo mud flow, despite environmental concerns raised about the decision, The Jakarta Post reported.

Test results show that the quality of the treated water is within levels set by the State Ministry of the Environment, but the condensed mud remaining after the process still remains a problem.

?The volume of the mud will continue to increase. We are finding ways to treat the condensed mud formed from the remnants of the water treatment process,? said the company?s health, safety and environment project manager, Johanes Sudarsono.

Lapindo is considering dumping the condensed mud in Mojokerto and Gresik, both of which, along with Sidoarjo, are in East Java. In Mojokerto, the mud will be used for landfill at mining sites, while in Gresik it will be used to fill excavation areas owned by state cement company PT Semen Gresik.

The Environment Ministry will have to approve the method of disposal before Lapindo can start to remove the mud.

?We are still in the planning stage. We will continue reviewing whether or not our plans are feasible, including matters concerning the distance and dumping schedules,? said Johanes. (*)