People protest polluting plants<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Residents of three separate areas have lodged a complaint with
\nthe City Environmental Management Agency (BPLHD) over pollution
\nallegedly produced by three concrete mixing firms.<\/p>\n
\"We received their complaints recently, and will summon the
\nthree firms and the residents for a meeting on Tuesday for a
\nclarification on the matter,\" head of BPLHD's environmental
\nimpact analysis division Ridwan Panjaitan said on Monday.<\/p>\n
The residents are from the East Jakarta neighborhoods along
\nJl. Suci, Susukan, Ciracas; along Jl. Pemuda, Rawamangun,
\nPulogadung; and of Bambu Apus, Cipayung. The three groups are
\nprotesting against concrete mixing plants owned by three
\ndifferent companies -- PT Jaya Readymix, PT Adhimix and PT
\nPioneer -- located in the three respective neighborhoods, Ridwan
\ntold The Jakarta Post and Koran Tempo dailies.<\/p>\n
In the case of PT Jaya Readymix, Ridwan said, the company had
\nalready fulfilled all legalities for their operation.<\/p>\n
Jaya Readymix had full ownership of the location and a street
\naccess, he explained, and it had also obtained all necessary
\nlicenses, including the environmental impact analysis, in 1995.
\nHowever, they were unable to continue operating during the
\ncountry's prolonged economic crisis, and neighborhood residents
\nbegan using the street access.<\/p>\n
When the company began operating the plant late last year,
\nresidents started complaining about the pollution allegedly
\nproduced by the plant, like noise and dust, and also complained
\nthat the ground water supply had become scarce.<\/p>\n
\"According to the existing law, the company must fulfill the
\npeople's demand to reduce noise, dust and pollution ...
\nOtherwise, it can face a forced closure (by the city
\nadministration),\" said Ridwan, referring to Law No. 23\/1997 on
\nenvironmental management.<\/p>\n
The law states that the company can also provide compensation
\nto those residents who are affected by the pollution.<\/p>\n
In the case of PT Adhimix, the residents protested that the
\nplant had been operating without the consent of the entire
\nneighborhood.<\/p>\n
Ridwan said the company claimed that prior to the operation of
\ntheir plant, they had conducted a meeting with local residents
\nand received their consent. Those who were protesting, said the
\ncompany, had not attended the meeting.<\/p>\n
Separately, several Bambu Apus residents protested against the
\nplant owned by PT Pioneer, which failed to manage the pollution
\nit produced.<\/p>\n
\"The company claims that they have taken all measures to
\nreduce the pollution, but the residents' complaint tells us that
\nthere is something wrong in its implementation,\" said Ridwan.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/people-protest-polluting-plants-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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