Bekasi mayor has yet to close dump

Bekasi mayor has yet to close dump

JAKARTA: Despite the recommendation from Bekasi councillors to
close the Bantar Gebang garbage dump, the mayor of Bekasi has yet
to issue a decree on its closure.

Mayor Nonon Sonthanie would discuss the issue further with the
executive and legislative bodies, said Nardi, a member of the
mayoralty's public relations staff.

"He still wants to explore the options and possibilities, so
he hasn't issued the decree on Bantar Gebang's closure," Nardi
told The Jakarta Post.

Bantar Gebang has been the source of bickering between the
Jakarta city administration and Bekasi mayoralty with Bekasi
threatening to close the city's garbage dump if Jakarta refused
to hand over 50 percent of the 104-hectare site to Bekasi.

The existence of the dump has caused an outcry from Bekasi
residents as it has caused land and air pollution.

Antara reported that as many as 6,757 residents around the
dumping site were infected with various respiratory illness and
1,352 suffered from diarrhea. --JP