Jakarta Governor Comments on the City's Air Quality, Urges Residents to Take Public Transports

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Acting Governor of Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono said that to improve Jakarta's air quality, the provincial government needs cooperation from the residents and the neighboring regional governments of Bekasi, Depok, Tangerang, and Bogor, on citizens to take public transports to commute instead of using private vehicles.

"The industries have moved outside of Jakarta. However, two-wheelers and four-wheelers vehicles are still causing air pollution," said Heru during the virtual discussion Forum Merdeka Barat 9 on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.

Heru reported that for the past 1.5 years, the amount of four-wheelers vehicles in Jakarta rose up. "From 4 million units to 6 million units," he said. 

Meanwhile, two-wheelers vehicles increased from 14 million units to 16 million units. "This is a heavy burden for the government, but we are still responsible," Heru said.

Heru relayed that the government will add electric buses to help mitigate the problem. Heru also said that the operational vehicles of the Jakarta provincial government also will gradually transition into electric vehicles.

The provincial government also routinely holds a planting trees program every Friday, which has been ongoing for a year. The number of trees planted amounted to 35,000 trees, with 20,000 of them being fruit trees. 

Heru believed that the effort carried out by the government will not be visible short-term. "But we assure that the regional government is not evading its responsibility," he added.

Heru Budi also hopes that all residents in Greater Jakarta synergize and use public transportation for commuting to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.

DESTY LUTHFIANI

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