Dark streets irk residents

TANGERANG: Residents of the coastal districts of Tangerang complained about the lack of street lamps in the area, saying the dark street had made the area vulnerable to crimes.

"Look at the dark road, lined only by rice fields," Mahrus of Gintung village told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday. "We don't go out at night because we might become victims of muggings or motorcycle thefts."

Ramsi, a resident of Tegal Alur village, Mauk district, said state electricity company PLN had upped the electricity capacity of the area to 1,300 watts from the original 450 watts.

"As a consequence, we have to pay more although we don't need that much electricity. Three percent of the electricity bill is for street lights, but we don't have any," he said. -- JP