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."