Emissions testing put on hold, again

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Jakarta administration's plan to punish motorists who failed emissions tests was delayed again Thursday, pending the completion of an ordinance that would be used as guidelines for the plan.

The Partnership for Clean Emissions (MEB), which was tasked by the administration to draft and oversee the implementation of mandatory emissions tests, said the enforcement of the plan had to be delayed until September.

The partnership had previously planned to complete the draft of the gubernatorial decree for the plan by March, giving time for public campaigns before enforcing it in July.

The drafting of the decree began in February, one year after the administration passed an ordinance on air pollution control.

"Drafting the gubernatorial decree has not been as smooth as we expected. We missed all our previous targets. So the enforcement of the law (now) can be carried out in September," John Livingstone Wuisan, the MEB's secretary-general, said.

He said the Jakarta Environmental Management Agency (BPLHD) aimed to put the law into force on Sept. 6, World Ozone Day.

The administration had earlier said it would fully enforce emissions testing in July, when the term of Governor Sutiyoso expires.

Jakarta is scheduled to hold its gubernatorial election in August.

John said the decree delay had also effected the process of certifying the auto garages that would perform the emissions testing.

"The administration is still assessing 55 auto garages. Another 80 garages interested in hosting emissions tests have been registered with the city," he said.

In addition, John said, the Association of Indonesian Automotive Manufacturers (Gaikindo) had offered the use of 297 of its auto garages for the program.

The city currently has 115 certified auto garages with 239 technicians authorized to perform emissions tests.

In order to expedite the program, small enterprises may also be allowed to open shops to conduct emissions tests.

The draft plan would see all cars traveling in the capital, including Bekasi, Depok, Tangerang and Bogor, forced to comply with the emissions standard.

The administration first announced vehicles were required to have emissions tests in February.

However, private vehicle owners have so far not been sanctioned for failing to obtain an inspection certificate.

The emissions test program follows from a 2005 bylaw on air pollution control, aimed at cleaning the air in the capital.

Under the bylaw, which also requires public transport vehicles to run on compressed natural gas, the maximum punishment allowable is six months' jail or a Rp 50 million fine.