Council upset by water company

MEDAN, North Sumatra: All factions of North Sumatra's legislative council expressed disappointment Saturday over the poor performance of the province's water company PDAM Tirtanadi.

"Tirtanadi recently raised its prices more than 200 percent despite strong criticism from its customers, but we are surprised that the hike is not reflected at all in the company's revenue," said councilor Djalil Siregar during a council plenary session.

Siregar, from the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction, said the company failed to improve its customer service.

Meanwhile Wahab Nasution from the dominant Golkar faction complained that small customers in fact had subsidized big scale industries because households had to pay more than big industries.

"The council must be fully involved in determining water prices," said Nurhayati Lubis from the United Development Party (PPP). (prb)