Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – The Minister of Environment/Head of the Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH), Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, inaugurated the Blue Sky Task Force in Greater Jakarta on Saturday (09/08/2025).
The inauguration took place at the Adipura Monument, Tangerang City, coinciding with the city’s car-free day (CFD) event.
“We cannot wait for air pollution to take a toll on public health. The Blue Sky Task Force is a concrete step to protect both current and future generations,” stressed Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, as stated in the official release of the Ministry of Environment.
Tangerang City is now officially the first area in Greater Jakarta to have a dedicated task force for air pollution control.
This task force was established through cross-sector collaboration—ranging from the Mayor of Tangerang, the Regional Secretary, relevant local agencies, to private sector partners—all joining forces to combat urban air pollution. Minister Hanif praised the city’s commitment.
“The presence of the mayor at the forefront of the fight against air pollution is a commendable commitment. With the full support of the Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda), I am confident we can bring back blue skies to Tangerang City,” said Minister Hanif.
Data from the past 30 days shows that for 10 days—or around 30 percent of the time—the city’s air quality fell into the “poor” category, with the main contributors being 480 smokestacks in seven industrial zones and around two million motor vehicles operating daily.
“This must be strictly monitored. Conduct vehicle emission testing and ensure industries comply with emission quality standards,” urged Minister Hanif.
According to monitoring by the Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (SPKUA) from January to August 2025, there are five main sources of air pollution in Tangerang City:
A surge in motor vehicles from 1.23 million units in 2020 to 2.86 million units in 2024;
484 industrial chimneys from 79 companies in 12 sub-districts;
Open waste burning still practiced by some residents;
Construction dust from roadworks and building projects; and
Aerosol particles worsened by the dry season, high humidity, and low wind speeds.
KLH/BPLH has taken firm action, including sealing two companies in the Pasar Kemis Industrial Zone in March 2025: PT SDS, which polluted the environment with potential criminal implications, and PT ALP (an iron and copper smelting industry) for storing hazardous waste (B3) without official environmental documentation.
“Air pollution knows no boundaries. That is why collaboration among all stakeholders—government, businesses, and the community—is the key to success,” emphasized Minister Hanif.
The Minister of Environment called on other regions to take inspiration from Tangerang City’s example. (*)
