JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- The government of Indonesia on Wednesday announced that it will file suit against eight companies for polluting the environment in East Java Province, officials said.

Indonesia's Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta did not identify the companies, although he said one of them was a fish canning company, and that all eight had been previously warned and remained in the ministry's blacklist.

Gusti said the companies had been 'careless' about the ministry's warnings and after being blacklisted on two occasions the ministry was forced to put them on trial for their violations.

In addition, Gusti also said several companies in Indonesia were on the government's blacklist due to further environmental violations, but after being warned, they are given a period of time to improve their practices.

According to the minister, companies in Indonesia are gradually raising environmental awareness. In 2010, 680 companies were regarded as environmentally friendly, but the ministry is hoping the number increases to 920 this year.

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