Bogor villagers complain of water shortage
BOGOR, West Java (JP): Residents of Lalamping village in Cibungbulang district here complained that they had been suffering from water shortage due to garbage blocking water sources.
A Lalamping resident, Soleh Japra, 60, said on Thursday that garbage from the nearby Galuga dump site, owned by the Bogor administration, had slid into seven wells, several public bathrooms, a gutter and a 2.5-hectare rice field.
The first garbage slide, which occurred last year, and the second, last month, was the result of heavy rains and an overloaded garbage dump.
"Last month, eight people were almost buried by sliding garbage," Soleh told The Jakarta Post.
As a result of the damage caused by the garbage, 77 families or some 350 residents are finding it difficult to take showers, wash their clothes and plates or use the toilet.
Some 10 families have even started moving to a nearby building on Thursday as their homes are vulnerable to garbage slides.
Soleh said if the wells, bathrooms and gutters were not damaged or clogged, residents would not complain.
"But many of them have not taken a bath for days. I haven't taken a bath for three days and can only hope for some rain," he said.
The city administration, he added, had sent a tank of clean water, but it was only enough for drinking.
The garbage has also polluted a small water source near the village, thus making it stink and causing itchiness.
Water from the garbage has also polluted the Cianten river and rice fields. Many rice fields cannot be harvested because of the pollution.
Soleh said the smell of the garbage had caused five residents to suffer respiratory problems.
"Health service was only provided by the administration when the garbage began to slide, but not on a daily basis, not even once a week," he said.
Residents also requested that the administration bury the garbage and build walls around the dump site to prevent the slide.
"If they (administration) want to move the site, fine. But they still have to take care of the problem," Soleh said.
Survey
Meanwhile, head of Bogor Sanitary Agency Hari Harsono said his office had asked the Bogor administration to give them until the end of the year to overcome the garbage problem.
"We have allocated some Rp 75 million (US$7,500) for a survey," Hari said.
The administration, he added, had designated six places, namely, Pasir Gaok village, Wates village, Candali Kemang village, Wates Cigudeg village, Nambu (Cileungsi) village and Baru Jonggol village as dump sites, but they would only be ready next July.
According to Hari, Galuga is only a four-hectare dump site while some 1,364 cubic meters of garbage are dumped at the site everyday.
"We have provided health service and made a soccer field for the residents around the site," he said.
Separately on Thursday, Bogor administration spokesman Mochamad Sjahuri said the administration was planning to charge residents garbage collection fees. (21/hdn)