JP\/7\/Waste<\/p>\n
Ainur R. Sophiaan
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nSurabaya<\/p>\n
In the rainy season approaches, Surabaya, the East Java
\nprovincial capital with a population of 2.4 million, is facing
\nthe threat of diarrhea and dengue fever epidemics following the
\nforced closure of a garbage dump in Keputih Subdistrict.<\/p>\n
Around 200,000 cubic meters of household waste are being
\nstored in around 400 temporary dumps in the city since the
\nweekend while the collection of household trash has been halted,
\ncausing a deterioration in the environment and a foul odor.<\/p>\n
M. Yasin, secretary of the municipal administration, called on
\ncitizens to manage their household waste wisely while
\nnegotiations between the municipal administration and protesters
\nin Keputih continued.<\/p>\n
\"The Keputih residents' unilateral action in preventing trucks
\nfrom dumping garbage at the dump is intolerable since it is goes
\nagainst the interests of the majority,\" he said here on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
More than 1,000 Keputih residents have been blocking garbage
\ntrucks from entering the vast dump following the municipal
\nadministration's failure to provide a public health center and
\ncarry out a regreening program in the subdistrict.<\/p>\n
\"The municipal administration has broken its promise to
\nresidents to provide a public health center, construct dikes and
\nregreen the subdistrict,\" Fathoni, a spokesman for the
\nprotesters, said.<\/p>\n
According to the protesters, the municipal administration has
\nnot demonstrated its good faith. \"We are forced to put up with
\nthe smell of the garbage everyday and we also frequently suffer
\nfrom diarrhea and dengue fever epidemics, but the authorities
\nnever listen to our aspirations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Yasin, another resident of Keputih, said however that not all
\nresidents wanted to close the dump and that the deadline set for
\nthe municipal administration to provide the social facilities and
\nregreening program was until 2002.<\/p>\n
Around one hundred police officers have been stationed near
\nthe dump to provide security for the transportation of the city's
\ngarbage to the area.<\/p>\n
\"We want the residents and the municipal administration to
\nhold negotiations about the problem and to prevent residents from
\nturning violent. We should have learned from last year's clashes
\nover the same problem,\" said Adj. Sr. Comr. Safaruddin, chief of
\nthe East Surabaya Police Precinct.<\/p>\n
M. Isman, a councillor, conceded that the trash issue had
\nbecome a chronic problem that was negatively affecting residents
\nnear the dump.<\/p>\n
\"During the rainy season, the municipal administration must
\nstay alert for possible outbreaks of diarrhea and dengue fever
\nepidemics,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp7waste-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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