Batik plant refuses to relocate

JAKARTA (JP): One of the remaining ten batik factories located in Karet Kuningan, Karet Semanggi and Kuningan Barat, South Jakarta, has strongly rejected the city administration's relocation plan, an official of the City Industry Office said yesterday.

Tatty Herawati, head of the office's supervisory affairs, told reporters yesterday that PT Genteng Idjo insisted on not moving, even though the deadline, April, had passed.

Six of the ten factories are currently in the process of moving to new areas in Mauk, Lippo City-Karawang, Warung Panjang and Karawang Timur, she said, adding that another three have been given permission to stay until April next year.

She said that, previously, there were 263 batik factories in operation in the area. "Over the last few years 160 factories have moved away, in response to the city administration's order," she said. The other factories have gone bankrupt or changed their business activities.

Batik factories are being relocated because their wastes are believed to have caused pollution in the Krukut River, which runs through the area.

Based on the 1994/1995 report, conducted by the City Assessment and Environment Office, water conditions in 31 locations (or 76 percent) out of 54 locations in the city, are chemically no longer fulfilling the standard quality.

Chemically, 54 percent of water conditions in the city's upstream areas has been contaminated, while the contamination in the downstream areas has reached 80 percent. (31)