Dispute with PLN goes on over lake water

Dispute with PLN goes on over lake water

PADANG, West Sumatra: The dispute between residents living
around Lake Maninjau and the state electricity company PLN has
yet to end despite several meetings between the company and the
people.

Idham Rajo Bintang, chairman of the Association of People Care
for Lake Maninjau Water, said on Wednesday that heaps of garbage
had been left uncleared due to a technical problem in the water
suction system for driving the turbine.

"The lake water is dirty and smells bad. The lake does no
longer deserve to be used as a tourist attraction," Idham said.

According to Idham, the deteriorating quality of the lake
water had also resulted in the damage to more than 3,400 hectare
of corn.

Meanwhile the Agam regency, where the lake is located,
demanded that PLN pay for the water it used based on Provincial
regulation No. 11/1997 on regional taxes and levies.

"PLN should have paid a total of Rp 32.7 billion in taxes as
of December last year. The company said it had been suffering
from financial losses," Werli Hamdi, regent's assistant on
administration and economy, said.

Djoewarso W., director of West Sumatra and Riau PLN Office
said his company was ready to pay compensation to the residents
after the cause of the water pollution was determined.

"It is the fish food, not the PLN turbine system, which causes
the lake water to smell bad," he said, adding that the tax to the
local administration was being discussed at the ministerial
level.

Locals breed fish in the lake, and a huge amount of fish food
is poured into the lake everyday. (28/sur)