Depok residents upset by mountains of trash

Depok residents upset by mountains of trash

Marilin, The Jakarta Post, Depok

Residents in Cipayung subdistrict, Depok, have been complaining
about the accumulation of garbage at the Cipayung dumpsite in the
area and said it was causing unhealthy levels of pollution.

"This place has been used as a disposal site for 14 years. At
the beginning, it was only 2,500 square meters but it has
expanded and is now 90,000 square meters," said one of the
residents, Gani, 42.

"We have the right to complain as the garbage does not only
cause pollution but it can also cause floods when the rainy
season comes because the water cannot drain effectively into the
Pesanggrahan River. Instead, the water floods housing areas," he
added.

The residents criticized Depok municipal administration for
ignoring the impact of the dump in the area.

Head of Depok Sanitation and Parks Agency, Walim Herwandi,
claimed recently that the agency had processed the garbage using
the sanitary landfill system.

"Basically, the soil will cover the garbage in a recycling
basin," he said, while adding that the agency would soon provide
soil to cover the garbage and, "therefore, it would no longer
pollute the environment."

Depok Environment Agency head Rahmad Subagyo promised that his
officials would survey and observe the dumpsite. They will take
samples from Pesanggrahan River and the residents artesian wells
and send them to the Bogor Institute of Agriculture laboratory
for examination.

"The agency is currently involved in a project with the Depok
Forestry Agency starting this month to plant trees around the
dump to act like a green belt. We hope it will minimize water
pollution caused by the accumulating garbage," he said.

Data from Jembatan Serong public health center in Cipayung
revealed that 691 residents had suffered acute respiratory
problems, which could be caused by increased air pollution from
the dumpsite.

"Most of the 691 patients live near the dump," said Rani
Martina, one of doctors at the health center, adding that the
health center had provided one free visit per month for local
residents.