Families demand compensation from PLN<\/p>\n
BOGOR (JP): About 180 families in two villages here have vowed
\nto force state-owned electricity firm PT PLN to provide them with
\nproper compensation to move from under high-voltage electric
\ncables running above their houses.<\/p>\n
Family representatives Abdul Madjid of Malang Nengah and
\nHartono of Jampang told The Jakarta Post Tuesday evening that
\nthere was an urgent need to move from the area because residents
\nfeared to live under such risky conditions.<\/p>\n
"Our life here has been haunted every day by fears of the
\nhealth consequences of the electricity currents," said Madjid.<\/p>\n
Therefore, he said, the 100 families of Malang Nengah village
\nand the 80 from Jampang had decided to leave immediately after
\nthey received fair compensation from PLN.<\/p>\n
According to Madjid, the villagers set a compensation price
\nfor their land and buildings for PLN a year ago, but PLN had yet
\nto respond suitably.<\/p>\n
"We are still asking PLN to pay a compensation of Rp 75,000
\n(US$9.50) per square meter of land, Rp 500,000 per square meter
\nfor permanent buildings and Rp 400,000 per square meter for semi-
\npermanent buildings," said Madjid.<\/p>\n
The 500 kilovolt cables running over several villages in the
\narea have reportedly transmitted electricity currents to
\nantennas, roof-tiles and bamboo drying posts throughout the
\nvillages.<\/p>\n
"That's why none of us here dare to have television antennas,
\nfor example, installed on our roofs," said Madjid.<\/p>\n
The residents have tried to get PLN to address the problem
\nsince December 1996. But the company has ignored their requests,
\nsaying that living under high-voltage cables is not dangerous, as
\nstated by a 1992 regulation issued by the Ministry of Mines and
\nEnergy, said Madjid.<\/p>\n
After receiving PLN's reply, the local residents staged a
\nprotest on Jan. 6 and Jan. 7 in 1997 by staging a sit-in on Jl.
\nCiseeng Raya, causing serious traffic congestion.<\/p>\n
The sit-in protest was repeated by about 50 residents in a
\nbreaking of the fast gathering Monday.<\/p>\n
During the meeting which was attended by their lawyers from
\nLBH Nusantara Jakarta, the residents recalled their efforts to
\nhave PLN meet their demands, including addressing the issue to
\nthe West Java legislative council, Bandung's Institute of
\nTechnology (ITB) in Bandung, the House of Representatives, the
\nMinistry of Mines and Energy and the WHO representative office in
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
According to one of their lawyers, Adian Napitupulu, PLN also
\nonce quoted WHO, the Ministry of Health and ITB as saying that
\nthere was no danger from living under such high-voltage cables.<\/p>\n
"The three institutions, however, at once revealed the
\npertinent statements which were contradictory to what PLN had
\nquoted," said Adian.<\/p>\n
To clarify the issue, a team of students from various
\nuniversities would take part in a three month study on the areas
\nstarting this month to find out the cables' social, economic and
\nenvironmental impacts, he said. (bsr\/24)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/families-demand-compensation-from-pln-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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