Fish farmers disappointed with compensation<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The compensation the city administration paid to fish farmers in
\nCilincing subdistrict, North Jakarta, for losses due to pollution
\nfrom a temporary dump was totally inadequate and snacked of
\ncorruption.<\/p>\n
Adding insult to injury, the farmers branded the
\nadministration's bid to stop further pollution from the dump a
\nfailure.<\/p>\n
The administration gave the farmers Rp 217 million (US$25,530)
\nin compensation, far below the Rp 774 million they had demanded.
\nThe amount had to be shared with fish farmers from Marunda beach,
\nmeaning that each farmer received only Rp 2 million on average.<\/p>\n
\"We are very disappointed with the compensation scheme in
\nwhich we are bundled together with farmers from Marunda. We are
\nthe ones who stood up against the pollution,\" Cilincing fish
\nfarmers spokesman Edi Jubaidi said on Sunday as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Azas Tigor Nainggolan of the non-governmental organization
\nJakarta Residents Forum (Fakta), who represented the fish farmers
\nin negotiating with the administration, alleged irregularities in
\nthe distribution of the compensation by the City Fisheries
\nAgency.<\/p>\n
\"As far as Fakta is concerned, we only gave advocacy services
\nto 26 farmers. We don't know how Marunda farmers could be
\nincluded in the list of those who are eligible for compensation,\"
\nhe told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He accused the agency officials of coming up with fictitious
\nnames to secure the largest sum of money from the compensation.<\/p>\n
\"Even if the names exist, I am extremely doubtful the
\npollution could reach Marunda beach. Therefore, fishermen in that
\narea should not be eligible to receive compensation,\" Tigor said.<\/p>\n
He called on the Jakarta Police to immediately investigate the
\nalleged funds misuse.<\/p>\n
Edi said the compensation money from the administration would
\nonly be enough to cover the cost of cleaning up their polluted
\nponds.<\/p>\n
\"The administration officials claimed the money would be
\nenough to buy fish, fertilizers and nutrients, completely
\ncontrary to the facts,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Edi said the farmers had to drain their ponds three times
\nbefore they were clean enough to restart fish breeding.<\/p>\n
He was concerned runoff from the dump would continue and said
\nthe administration's cure of building a concrete wall separating
\nthe dump from the fish ponds was not working.<\/p>\n
\"Liquid waste in the dump easily breaches the walls during
\nheavy rains.\"<\/p>\n
The administration closed down the dump in Cilincing last
\nmonth following strong protests from the farmers and complaints
\nfrom the Office of the State Minister of the Environment about
\npollution in the area.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fish-farmers-disappointed-with-compensation-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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