Three said injured in power plant accidents<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Two non-governmental organizations yesterday
\nurged the East Java government to take safety measures at a power
\ntransmitter in Gresik following a recent series of explosions
\nthat injured three people.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Center for Environmental Law and the Surabaya
\nchapter of the Legal Aid Institute have urged \"immediate action\"
\nto prevent similar incidents occurring in the highly
\ncontroversial power project.<\/p>\n
They were referring to the 500 kilovolt extra-high-voltage
\nelectricity transmitter project, began in 1992, which has
\nhundreds of residents living in fear.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year 92 Singosari residents sued the government
\nand the state electricity company for erecting high-voltage
\ncables above their houses, demanding more than Rp 4 billion (US$2
\nmillion) in compensation. The case is still before the Central
\nJakarta District Court.<\/p>\n
The Legal Aid Institute's headquarters in Jakarta wrote to
\nPresident Soeharto, the National Human Rights Commission and the
\nState Minister of Environment last week to express their concern
\nfor residents' safety following the explosions.<\/p>\n
The non-governmental organizations said the first five
\nexplosions were heard on Nov. 11 and another two, six days later.<\/p>\n
\"The explosions were so loud they could be heard 2.5
\nkilometers away and were accompanied by a flash of lighting,
\nwhich reached the ground where the people ... live,\" Indro
\nSugianto, director of Legal Aid Surabaya, said.<\/p>\n
Three people were injured and hundreds others traumatized by
\nthe incident, he said.<\/p>\n
Sugianto said the state electricity company has ignored
\nrepeated appeals and warnings from the residents concerning the
\nhazardous project. He urged the government to take firm action
\nagainst the company for causing unrest.<\/p>\n
Director of the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law Mas
\nAchmad Santosa said he fully supported the Legal Aid Institute.
\nConcrete measures should be taken to prevent similar accidents
\nfrom happening again, he said.<\/p>\n
The Legal Aid Institute also called on the government to
\nrelocate residents from the area.<\/p>\n
Santosa called for the formation of an independent team to
\ninvestigate the explosions and its effects to the environment.<\/p>\n
\"The center for environmental law and other non-government
\norganizations are able to bring in experts from overseas who are
\ncompetent in this field and can be independent researchers,\" he
\nsaid.(sim)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/three-said-injured-in-power-plant-accidents-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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