City pays Rp 14b to Bekasi as compensation for dump
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Governor Sutiyoso handed over a Rp 14 billion (US$1.4 million) check to Bekasi Mayor Nonon Sonthanie on Wednesday, to compensate the reopening of Bantar Gebang dump site in Bekasi.
The money is part of Rp 22 billion agreed by both administrations for the reopening of the site, which accommodates most of Jakarta's garbage, until the end of 2003.
"The remaining Rp 8 billion will be handed over next year. The Bekasi municipality is obliged to report to us on how the money is spent," Sutiyoso told reporters at the City Hall.
The Bekasi accountability report on the money spent, is needed as it was taken from the Jakarta Budget and must be reported to the city council.
Nonon, who looked happy upon receiving the cheque, emphasized that the continuation of the garbage dump would depend on the evaluation made by an independent team.
"If the team states in its evaluation that the dump is still causing damages to the surrounding environment, we'll close it," he said.
The 104-hectare site, which occupies three villages, was closed by the Bekasi municipality early December for causing environmental damages.
After a series of talks mediated by the Central Government and the House of Representatives, the municipality finally approved to reopen the dump after being closed for one week.
Due to the closing dump, garbage was piling up throughout the city. Some had scattered to the roads and plunged into the rivers.
Jakarta, which earlier accused Bekasi for "blackmailing", finally signed a new memorandum with the later on Jan. 31.
Besides paying the compensation, Jakarta also helps to build a hospital, roads and installation of water pipelines in the three villages, Sumur Batu, Ciketing Udik and Cikiwul.
The municipality earlier requested several demands, including computers and an official car for a district chief but they were rejected.
Since Jakarta has agreed to repair the site, the City Sanitation Agency deputy Rama Budi admitted to have appointed several contractors for the Rp 29 billion project.
"It's a direct appointment without an open tender since we were facing an urgency on garbage problems," he said.
The presidential decree states that a project worth more than Rp 50 million must be offered through an open tender.