Bogor adamant on Bojong plant
Bogor adamant on Bojong plant
Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post/Bogor
To calm Bojong residents who are up in arms over the plan to hold
a trial run of a waste treatment plant in their neighborhood, the
Bogor administration invited them on Thursday for a negotiation.
"No matter what happens, we will continue to examine the
project's operation. We just want to determine whether or not the
plant will actually cause environmental pollution. And if it
does, then we will close it down," said city spokesman Ahmad
Sjahuri.
Since the construction of the plant in 2002 by PT Wira Guna
Sejahtera, according to the official, the residents living around
the plant have been divided into three groups.
The first group, Ahmad said, support the presence of the plant
which they say could provide jobs for 900 people.
The second is those who want the plant to be closed down as it
might pollute the environment and be harmful to residents'
health. The locals also object to the plant because it was
established in violation of spatial planning without consulting
local residents.
"The other group is comprised of residents and local
authorities who want evidence that the plant will have an adverse
impact," Ahmad said.
"We want to get all groups at one table to hear each of the
arguments in order to reach a feasible compromise," he added.
The residents had tried to sabotage the trial run scheduled
for Wednesday by blocking the main road leading to the plant.
As riot police tried to remove tree branches and logs placed
in the middle of the road on Tuesday night, the residents
attempted to stop them by hurling stones and Molotov cocktails at
the officers. The conflict ended when the police were recalled
from the location.
The clash was the eighth since the construction of the plant
started.
The Bojong plant, which aims to use bale press and incinerator
technology, was designed to treat one-third of Jakarta's 6,000
tons of daily waste. The plant's assets are worth Rp 120 billion.
"We hope that this controversy will end after all sides reach
an agreement. I strongly believe that the Bogor administration
will do its best to be responsible to its residents and will not
let its people suffer," Ahmad said.
"Otherwise, I don't think we can afford to pay compensation of
Rp 120 billion to the plant operator."