Bantar Gebang dump to close in December<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta and Bekasi administrations agreed on
\nThursday to begin closing the Bantar Gebang garbage dump, long
\ncondemned as a health and environmental hazard, in December.<\/p>\n
\"We have agreed to gradually close the Bantar Gebang garbage
\ndump in Bekasi,\" deputy governor Budihardjo Sukmadi said after a
\nmeeting between officials of the Jakarta administration, led by
\nGovernor Sutiyoso, Bekasi councilors and Bekasi Mayor Nonon
\nSonthanie at City Hall.<\/p>\n
He said the Jakarta administration allocated Rp 10 billion
\n(US$1.2 million) for cleanup of the dump and as compensation for
\nenvironmental damage in the area.<\/p>\n
\"Governor Sutiyoso apologized to the Bekasi people over the
\nenvironmental damage in the area,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the Jakarta administration also agreed on Thursday to
\nbuild a permanent community health center in the area to help the
\nlocal residents.<\/p>\n
The garbage dump is located in three villages -- Sumur Batu,
\nCikiwul and Ciketing Udik -- with a population of 4,819 families
\nconsisting of 19,603 people.<\/p>\n
Three periodic health operations, held by the Jakarta
\nadministration in three Bantar Gebang communities, treated 1,666
\npeople suffering from various disorders, including respiratory
\ndisease, skin infections and anemia.<\/p>\n
New site<\/p>\n
Budihardjo said both Jakarta and Bekasi residents could
\ncontinue disposing garbage -- amounting to 23,000 cubic meters
\nper day -- at the garbage dump until the construction of a new
\ndump in Ciangir, Tangerang, was completed.<\/p>\n
He said the construction of the Ciangir dump would start in
\n2001. The project, which will include the construction of new
\nroads to the site, is projected to cost Rp 56 billion.<\/p>\n
\"We'll hold talks with the Tangerang administration about the
\nplan. We'll assure them that what happened in Bantar Gebang will
\nnot happen in Ciangir,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Head of the city's sanitary agency Saksono Soehodo said a
\nseven-hectare plot of Zone 3 at Bantar Gebang would be closed
\npermanently in December.<\/p>\n
However, he was unable to put a date on when the entire 108-
\nhectare dump would be shut.<\/p>\n
\"According to city planning, the garbage dump could be used
\nuntil 2004 if it is managed properly,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The garbage pile, which is from eight meters to 15 meters
\nhigh, is still at a tolerable height.\"<\/p>\n
He said four of the five zones which are already overcapacity
\nwould be covered with soil.<\/p>\n
\"Meanwhile, the 11-hectare plot of Zone 5, which is still
\nempty, will be opened to take garbage,\" Saksono said.<\/p>\n
The city administration earlier blamed environmental damage at
\nthe dump to mismanagement.<\/p>\n
Effluent from the dump has reportedly contaminated water
\nsources in surrounding areas and thousands of local residents
\nreportedly suffer from respiratory disorders.<\/p>\n
The Bekasi councilors' delegation, led by Lt. Col. Adi
\nKristiono of the military\/police faction, said they understood
\nthe explanation given by Sutiyoso.<\/p>\n
\"However, we'll discuss the Jakarta administration's plan with
\nother councilors,\" Adi said.<\/p>\n
Bekasi councilors have previously demanded the total closure
\nof the garbage dump.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, 20 students from the Bekasi Students Union, who
\nwere not invited to the meeting with Sutiyoso, said they were
\ndissatisfied with the agreement.<\/p>\n
Union spokesman Abdul Azis said its own survey revealed that
\n80 percent of respondents in the three villages demanded
\nimmediate closure of the dump. (jun)<\/p>",
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