The West Java Provincial Government has promised to impose strict sanctions on PT Pindo Deli 1, which is suspected of polluting the Citarum River until the water turns blue-green.
West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi in his statement quoted in Karawang, Tuesday, said that he had ordered the West Java Environmental Service (DLH) to conduct research and collect evidence of Citarum River pollution by PT Pindo Deli 1.
"I emphasize that I have asked the Environmental Service to process and act firmly and consistently, and to impose strict sanctions if violations are found," he said.
Dedi said he would not compromise with business actors in West Java who were found to have committed violations and environmental pollution.
Head of the Karawang Environmental and Sanitation Service, Iwan Ridwan, previously stated that since the color of the Citarum water changed from cloudy brown to greenish blue on Saturday (21/6), his party immediately conducted a surprise inspection at Pindo Deli 1.
From the results of the inspection, it was revealed that the change in the color of the Citarum River water occurred when PT Pindo Deli 1 was producing blue paper.
The wastewater from the production is actually processed in IPAL Pindo Deli 1. However, it has not been able to fully decompose the color pigments. So it still produces a blue color when discharged into the Citarum River.
For the incident, the Karawang Environmental and Sanitation Service has given a warning sanction. Meanwhile, further sanctions are handed over to the West Java Provincial Environmental Service.
