Joint effort needed to overcome air pollution in Jabodetabek: Jokowi

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has underscored the need for joint effort to overcome air pollution in the Jakarta-Bogor-Depok-Tangerang-Bekasi (Jabodetabek) areas.

“This requires a joint effort. We must take every step (to handle air pollution), such as shifting from private transportation to public transportation,” he emphasized on the sidelines of his visit to a public vocational high school in Semarang, Central Java, on Wednesday.

He emphasized that the efforts require collaboration from all parties, with continued work in the long term.

Jokowi said that the government had made efforts to modify the weather and intensified tree planting in office areas to reduce air pollution.

The government is reviewing the implementation of work-from-home regulations for state civil servants, intensifying supervision of the operation of steam power plants, and conducting emission tests on motorized vehicles, he stated.

Jokowi also reminded industry players that sanctions would be imposed on industries disobeying gas emission control regulations, as it caused a decrease in air quality in the surrounding areas.

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“Industries violating the regulations will face sanctions and potential closure. If they do not install scrubbers, we will take firm action… because the price of health is very expensive,” he emphasized.

The government has imposed administrative sanctions on 11 companies that are sources of air pollution. They are coal, metal, paper, and charcoal producers.

The government is also taking steps to prevent the impact of increased urban air pollution on public health by campaigning the 6M+1S protocol to prevent the adverse effects of air pollution on health.

The 6M+1S protocol includes checking air quality, reducing outdoor activities, using air purifiers, avoiding sources of air pollution, wearing masks, implementing a clean and healthy lifestyle, and immediately seeking health treatment if the person experiences health problems due to air pollution.