Swallows' nests turn Medan into ghost town<\/p>\n
By Apriadi Gunawan<\/p>\n
MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Visit Kawasan, Kampung Keling,
\nAyahanda, Tembung, Labuhan Deli, Sanggal and Padang Bulan and
\nalmost any other part of this capital city of North Sumatra, and
\nobserve the almost overnight emergence of tall buildings there.<\/p>\n
Unlike the tall buildings in many other cities, nobody dwells
\nin these ones. They are not beautiful architecturally. In fact
\nthey are gloomy and spooky for they have been built for the sole
\npurpose of allowing swallows to nest.<\/p>\n
These parts of the city are slowly being turned into something
\nresembling a cemetery, or a ghost town where only the shrill
\nscreams of the fast-flying birds pierce the silence. The stench
\nof bird droppings is one reason why many people have become
\nannoyed with the presence of these swallow's nest businesses in
\ntheir midst.<\/p>\n
Some people believe that not only are the eerie structures an
\neyesore, but that the scattered bird droppings are a source of
\ndisease. There is another nuisance: the constant, nerve-racking
\nand ear-piercing shrills imitating the sounds of the birds
\nproduced by special devices to lure the birds into the buildings.<\/p>\n
According to Dr. A. Naiboru, MSc, a biomedical expert from the
\nUniversity of North Sumatra, the noises produced by the swallows
\ncan disrupt humans and create discomfort.<\/p>\n
Naiboru explained that if the sound intensity went beyond 85
\ndecibels (dB(A) for eight hours at a stretch per day or 40 hours
\na week, it could be classified as disruptive, causing people in
\nthe vicinity to suffer from insomnia. And if the sound intensity
\nis over 95 dB(A), eventually it could cause deafness in the
\npeople in the proximity of the source.<\/p>\n
During the day, swallow-like noises from cassettes to attract
\nswallows blare even louder than the roar of the hustle and bustle
\nof the city -- a sign that people involved in the swallow's nests
\nbusiness are unaware of the grave impact the shrieking sounds
\nhave on life in the vicinity.<\/p>\n
\"We only hope that the noises from the cassettes can lure more
\nswallows,\" said Tony, a swallow's nest businessman of Chinese
\ndescent in Kesawan.<\/p>\n
Tony let it be known that because of the noise, he is able to
\nattract birds and make millions every month, despite the noise
\nbeing irritating to others.<\/p>\n
The nests, which are individually pasted together with bird
\nsaliva, can fetch Rp 16 million to Rp 17 million a kilogram. \"The
\nhigher the value of the dollar, the more money we earn,\" he said.<\/p>\n
It stands to reason that more and more people have been drawn
\nto this kind of business. Unfortunately, the city administration
\nand the regional legislative council have not paid much attention
\nto the matter, and have not taken advantage of the city's
\npotential. Up to date not a single ruling has been made with
\nregard to this lucrative bird's nest business, which could draw a
\nhandsome revenue for the city's coffers.<\/p>\n
The division head of the city's public relations, Ismunandar,
\nacknowledged that no law to govern the business had been enacted,
\nbut said there were plans to implement a regulation in 2002.<\/p>\n
Ismunandar further said: \"Now the members of the legislative
\ncouncil are hammering out a regulation concerning this business
\nand now those who wish to construct a building for nesting
\nswallows must abide by prevailing regulations,\" referring to
\nbuilding permits (IMBs), under which only three-story buildings
\ncan be constructed.<\/p>\n
Realizing that the buildings for nesting swallows spoil the
\ncity's views, the city administration plans on relocating them to
\nthe northern coastal areas such as Medan Belawan, Medan Labuhan
\nand Medan Marelan. Ismunandar, however, is uncertain whether the
\nplan will go through because demolition and reconstruction of the
\nbuildings would cost a lot of money.<\/p>\n
Medan Mayor Abdillah once promised to straighten out
\nirregularities and demolish offending buildings, but so far no
\nmeasure has been taken. On the contrary, these ugly buildings are
\nmushrooming in the area and many shop owners have transformed
\ntheir shops into tall, gigantic concrete structures for the gold-
\nlaying birds.<\/p>\n
Last Wednesday, legislator Martius Latuperisa in Medan said
\nthat the mayor must demolish the buildings immediately because
\nthey contravened city regulations. He added: \"These structures
\nare of no benefit to the general public. They are the breeding
\nground of various dangerous ailments for the local people.<\/p>\n
\"There is no denying that the owners get some backing from
\ncertain people, otherwise the buildings wouldn't be there, and
\nthose who back them up are sitting at ease in the city
\nadministration or even in the regional legislative council,\"
\nMartius charged, without naming any names.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the city of Asahan could be one of the first regional
\nadministrations in North Sumatra clever enough to see the golden
\nopportunity of this prolific business.<\/p>\n
With a recently approved regional ruling regarding the
\nswallow's nest business already on hand, the city has managed to
\nput Rp 500 million in its coffers in less than a year. City
\nplanning has also become better organized. According to Bustami,
\nfaction head of the United Development Party in Asahan, the
\nruling emerged as a result of the uncontrollable construction of
\nbuildings for nesting.<\/p>\n
\"Here we have more than 1,500 structures and around Kisaran
\nthere are about 200,\" Bustami said. \"Before the issuance of the
\nregulation, the city was just like a ghost town and many
\nresidents denounced the existence of the structures.\"<\/p>\n
The new regulation stipulates several points related to
\nheight, occupancy and sales tax. For example, the sales tax is 10
\npercent to 15 percent, buildings must not exceed a height of 30
\nmeters and the first floor must be designed like a residence and
\nbe occupied. Apart from that, the owner is to calculate the
\nenvironmental impact of his building.\"<\/p>\n
Those who do not go by the book are liable to criminal or
\ncivil sanctions.<\/p>\n
Since harvest time varies according to the number of swallows
\nvisiting a building -- with some reaping their harvest once a
\nmonth, but others mostly on a quarterly basis -- the city
\nadministration, therefore, has set up a team to monitor tax
\nevasion.<\/p>\n
The nests are generally exported to Singapore and China, where
\nhistory shows that swallow's nests were consumed by royalty. The
\nChinese strongly believe that the nest, besides being tasty, has
\nhealing properties for various ailments.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/swallows-nests-turn-medan-into-ghost-town-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}