Garbage problems still looming<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Garbage problems continue to haunt the Jakarta city
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
The Bekasi legislative council complained on Thursday about
\nwhat they saw as poor management of the garbage dumped at the
\nBantar Gebang site by the Jakarta Sanitation Agency.<\/p>\n
Councillor Nurul Yakin of the National Mandate Party (PAN),
\nclaiming to represent the council, said the city administration
\nhad failed to improve sanitary landfill systems.<\/p>\n
The current method left awful smells that spoiled the nearby
\nresidents living conditions, he said.<\/p>\n
Jakarta dumps an average of 25,000 cubic meters per day at
\nBantar Gebang.<\/p>\n
\"The Jakarta administration must be able to deal with the
\ngarbage in the dump site professionally so as not to cause more
\nenvironmental problems for local residents,\" he was quoted by
\nAntara as saying.<\/p>\n
Nurul also blamed the city administration for failing to keep
\nits promise to improve the condition of Bantar Gebang dump site
\nby, among other things, renovating the irrigation and repairing
\ndamaged walls surrounding the dump site and the access road.<\/p>\n
Nurul said that the Bekasi legislative council would soon
\nobserve and examine the environment around the dump site,
\nincluding residential areas.<\/p>\n
The latest complaint will seemingly prolong the dispute
\nbetween the city administration and the Bekasi mayoralty over the
\ndump site, which started late last year.<\/p>\n
The Bekasi mayoralty has threatened to close the 104-hectare
\ndump site should the Jakarta Sanitary Agency fail to implement a
\nproper sanitary landfill system.<\/p>\n
The as many as 18,000 local people living around the dump site
\nhave frequently complained about the environmental degradation
\ndue to the improper garbage handling in Bantar Gebang. Some have
\nsuffered from skin problems, diarrhea and other illnesses,
\nreportedly due to the waste.<\/p>\n
In February, residents burned a dump truck belonging to the
\ncity administration. They said they were upset with the drivers
\nwho dumped the waste outside the dump site.<\/p>\n
The dispute then cooled down after a series of meetings
\nbetween both sides, mediated by the central government. The deal
\nwas that Jakarta was still allowed to dump its garbage in Bantar
\nGebang until 2003.<\/p>\n
In March, Governor Sutiyoso handed over a cheque worth Rp 14
\nbillion to Bekasi Mayor Nonon Sonthanie. The money was part of Rp
\n22 billion promised by the city administration to improve the
\nsanitary landfill system and the social facilities for residents
\naround the area. Another Rp 8 billion is supposed to be given
\nnext year for similar purposes until the dump site is closed in
\n2003.<\/p>\n
The Bekasi mayoralty is assigned to maintain Bantar Gebang and
\nreport the development to the Jakarta administration. There was
\nno explanation why the Bekasi councillor did not check with the
\nmayor over the implementation of the renovation and repair works
\nfunded by the Rp 14 billion.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/garbage-problems-still-looming-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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