Industrial waste damages Jambi rice fields

JAMBI: Sarolangun regency’s agriculture office has asked an agribusiness in Cermin Nan Gedang district to rehabilitate tens of hectares of rice fields that were destroyed by a flood of waste from the company.

Regency office head Hardiono said the polluted waste had affected 70 hectares of rice fields.

“I condemn the waste overflow. The company should not have discharged the waste directly into the fields. I call on the company’s management to repair the damage,” he said.

Hardiono said that if the damaged fields were not repaired, the regency’s rice production would be affected at a time when the price of staple foods is skyrocketing. — JP