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Bill gives government control of environmental oversight
Critics doubt the government's ability to properly monitor thousands of companies and warn that the centralized oversight may lead to environmental destruction.
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Under the bill, regional administrations would be stripped of their power to manage forests and the environment and the central government would be the only authority on spatial planning and land and forest management. (JP/Anggara Mahendra)
T
he omnibus bill on job creation has caused yet another controversy as it would loosen and even strip measures on environmental oversight, including the requirement for businesses to obtain an Environmental Impact Analysis (Amdal) document.
Under the bill, regional administrations would be stripped of their power to manage forests and the environment and the central government would be the only authority on spatial planning and land and forest management.
Article 18 of the draft bill, which would revise Law No. 26/2007 on spatial planning, includes a stipulation that, in the case of overlapping claims over spatial planning in forests, a presidential regulation would be issued.
The central government's authority would also be strengthened under Article 23 of the bill, which calls for a revision of Law No. 32/2009 on environmental management and protection. The article would diminish the role of regional administrations in overseeing the environment.
Waste-dumping permits are currently acquired through governors, mayors or regents. Under the omnibus bill, the central government would hand out the permits.
Environmental restoration funds that companies must prepare would have to be deposited at banks selected by the central government. Currently, regional leaders select the banks.
