Asia-Pacific

Uncontrolled permits do environmental damage in Indonesia

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-29 20:22

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Thursday that many uncontrolled licences issued by provincial administrations, such as in mining sectors, have caused destruction on environment.

The statement comes as the Southeast Asia's largest economy has committed and efforted to joint global efforts to curb global warming partly by keeping its environment sustainability and protecting vast rainforests.

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President Yudhoyono said that most of operational works under the licences has not implemented a good practices and under poor management. Most of the licences were issued at the level of regency or municipality.

"A very serious problem that I must convey here is the rampant issuance of permits which most of them have been done at the level of regency and municipality, which bring negative impact on many cases. For example, too many licences issued for opening new coal mines, which then make them operated under poor management and cause environmental damages as well a number of loss suffered by the state,"he told cabinet meeting at the State palace.

Yudhoyono said that it was needed a correction on such practices.

"I think an example, I need to order a certain element to conduct a supervision and investigation on the environmental damage caused by the uncontrolled issuance of permits," said Yudhoyono.

Indonesia has pledged to extend its target of carbon emission reduction from 26 percent to 41 percent by 2020 under the international assistance.

So far, the archipelago country has got commitment of one billion U.S. dollars from Norway on condition that Indonesia must conduct a two year moratorium on shifting its forest for other purposes starting next year.

Indonesia may get more funds from international communities following the recent pledge by developed countries to provide over 4 billion U.S. dollars for financing efforts to curb global warming. But Indonesia must convince the world.