Residents protest road damage in Tangerang<\/p>\n
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang<\/p>\n
Thousands of residents from the districts of Balaraja, Kresek and
\nKronjo in Tangerang, Banten province, blocked the main road
\nconnecting the three districts on Monday to demand the regency
\nadministration repair the damaged artery.<\/p>\n
The road was blocked from Ceplak market in Balaraja to Kronjo
\ndistrict, preventing all vehicles except motorcycles from
\npassing.<\/p>\n
Residents of villages along the road placed oil drums, logs,
\nbamboo, tires and stones in the street to block any cars
\nattempting to travel between the districts.<\/p>\n
In Tenjong village, Kresek district, residents moved several
\nbamboo-constructed food stalls into the middle of the road.<\/p>\n
\"We have been patient with the administration for long enough.
\nNow we have to protest and force them to pay attention to the
\nproblem by blocking the road,\" Suheri, 30, a resident of
\nSukamulya village, Balaraja district, told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The father of two said residents were angry that the
\nadministration had left the road unpaved for so long. During the
\ndry season, cars passing along the busy road raise dust clouds
\nthat coat everything in their path.<\/p>\n
\"As a result, many of us, especially the children, suffer from
\nrespiratory problems,\" Rachmat, 32, a resident of Kaliasin
\nvillage, Balaraja, told the Post, adding that regency
\nadministration officials ignored the problem while they busied
\nthemselves with preparations for regent elections.<\/p>\n
During negotiations with a police team led by Tangerang Police
\ndeputy chief Comr. IGD Sugianyar, residents said they would lift
\nthe blockade after the administration gave them a written
\nagreement on when the roadwork would resume. They also demanded
\nthe administration agree to send trucks to water down the road at
\nleast twice a day until the roadwork was completed.<\/p>\n
The chief of the regency highway construction, maintenance and
\nirrigation agency, Maryoso, who met with demonstrators in Ceplak
\nvillage, said the road project began in June 2001 and was
\nentrusted to CV Cipadang Jaya Baya. He said the contractor should
\nhave completed the work by Dec. 31, 2002.<\/p>\n
\"On November 20, 2002, we canceled the contract because the
\ncontractor was only able to complete 22 percent of the total work
\nwhile the deadline for the project was December 31, 2002,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said his agency was now looking for a new contractor to
\ncomplete the halted project, and promised that by the
\nmiddle of February a new contractor would resume the roadwork.<\/p>\n
He also said the agency would water down the road twice a day
\nin order to keep down the dust.<\/p>",
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