Minister rejects Bojong tryout<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
State Minister of the Environment Rachmat Witoelar has lent
\nsupport to residents in their opposition to the planned trial of
\nthe Bojong waste treatment plant in Bogor regency.<\/p>\n
\"We are determined to reject the tryout,\" he said on Tuesday
\nin a hearing with House of Representatives Commission VII for
\nenergy, human resources and environmental issues.<\/p>\n
Bogor authorities revealed last week that the regental
\nadministration and the plant operator, PT Wira Guna Sejahtera,
\nwould carry out the trial on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The state minister argued that, after thoroughly studying the
\nmatter, a joint team manned by staff from his office, the Office
\nof the State Minister of Research and Technology and the Jakarta
\nadministration had recommended that the operation be shelved.<\/p>\n
The team was assigned to determine the feasibility of the
\nplant, including studying the environmental impact analysis and
\nproblems in the field.<\/p>\n
Late last month, a special House team also recommended the
\nclosure of the plant as its presence violated land zoning
\nregulations. The team said the construction of the site had
\nviolated Bogor Bylaw No. 27\/1998 stipulating that the area in
\nquestion was designated as a residential, tourism and
\nagricultural area.<\/p>\n
The deputy executive director of the Indonesian Forum for the
\nEnvironment (Walhi), Ridha Saleh, said that tension between
\nopposing parties had run high since Monday.<\/p>\n
Dozens of local residents gathered at a post near the plant in
\nanticipation of the company operating the facility at night.<\/p>\n
Bojong plant manager Henry said the main machines in the
\nfacility were in place and ready for a trial run.<\/p>\n
\"The installation is 95 percent complete. We only need to
\ninstall some fixtures, such as lamps in corners of the facility.\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The facility has in the past been vandalized by residents who
\nfoiled the last trial run of the plant in November last year. The
\nresidents feared the plant would damage the environment and their
\nhealth.<\/p>\n
The plant, built in 2003, is meant to incinerate one-third of
\nJakarta's daily waste of 6,000 tons. Jakarta anticipated that the
\nplant would reduce its dependency on the Bantar Gebang dump in
\nBekasi owing to on-and-off operations of the dump amid opposition
\nfrom local residents.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo said that his office would
\nuse the plant only if the facility operator proved that the plant
\nwould not damage the environment.<\/p>\n
\"Should the trial run fail, we surely won't use it,\" he
\nannounced at City Hall.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/minister-rejects-bojong-tryout-1447893297",
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