Compensation promised, garbage dump stays open<\/p>\n
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The city administration has promised to pay Bekasi
\nmunicipality Rp 8.75 billion (US$850,000) a year in compensation
\nafter the later agreed to allow Jakarta to keep dumping its
\ngarbage at Bekasi's Bantar Gebang dump until 2003.<\/p>\n
In order to win the hearts and minds of the Bantar Gebang
\nresidents, who had earlier rejected the reopening of the dump,
\nthe Jakarta administration has pulled out all the stops,
\nincluding showering the residents with gifts, including 30 goats.<\/p>\n
\"We will pay compensation that is 3.5 times bigger than last
\nyear,\" Governor Sutiyoso told residents during his visit to the
\ndump on Friday.<\/p>\n
Last year, the city administration paid compensation of Rp 2.5
\nbillion to Bekasi municipality before the later closed the dump
\non Dec. 10 due to continued environmental damage.<\/p>\n
The municipality reopened the dump a week later after Jakarta
\npromised to repair the damage and to pay more compensation.
\nJakarta and Bekasi are currently discussing revised terms that
\nare to be included in a new agreement scheduled to be signed on
\nJan. 31.<\/p>\n
Bekasi Mayor Nonon Sonthanie said the compensation and other
\nrequirements were still being discussed with the municipality's
\ncouncillors.<\/p>\n
\"We hope we can sign the new agreement by the end of this
\nmonth,\" Nonon told reporters at the dump site.<\/p>\n
Besides the Rp 8.75 billion compensation payment, Jakarta will
\nalso meet Bekasi's earlier demands, including the development of
\na hospital, local piped water supply and roads.<\/p>\n
\"Ninety percent of local residents' demands will be
\naccommodated,\" Sutiyoso said in Ciketing village, Bekasi.<\/p>\n
The Bantar Gebang dump is located in an area that encompasses
\nCiketing, Cikiwul and Sumur Batu villages.<\/p>\n
Local residents had earlier demanded the construction of roads
\nand a mosque in the area. The Bantar Gebang district chief
\nreportedly asked for an official car.<\/p>\n
On Friday, Sutiyoso officially handed over 30 goats, three
\ntons of rice, several sewing machines, 45 packages of sarongs and
\nkoko Muslim clothes and hats, medicines, three guitars, three
\nrebana traditional drums and 15 soccer balls.<\/p>\n
The probable survival of the 104-hectare Bantar Gebang dump
\nhas left Sutiyoso relieved, so the refusal by Jakarta councillors
\nto approve funding for the planned Marunda dump is no longer such
\na disaster for him.<\/p>\n
\"Yes, if the council has rejected it, we can accept that,\" he
\nsaid shortly.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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