Garbage problems still looming
Garbage problems still looming
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Garbage problems continue to haunt the Jakarta city
administration.
The Bekasi legislative council complained on Thursday about
what they saw as poor management of the garbage dumped at the
Bantar Gebang site by the Jakarta Sanitation Agency.
Councillor Nurul Yakin of the National Mandate Party (PAN),
claiming to represent the council, said the city administration
had failed to improve sanitary landfill systems.
The current method left awful smells that spoiled the nearby
residents living conditions, he said.
Jakarta dumps an average of 25,000 cubic meters per day at
Bantar Gebang.
"The Jakarta administration must be able to deal with the
garbage in the dump site professionally so as not to cause more
environmental problems for local residents," he was quoted by
Antara as saying.
Nurul also blamed the city administration for failing to keep
its promise to improve the condition of Bantar Gebang dump site
by, among other things, renovating the irrigation and repairing
damaged walls surrounding the dump site and the access road.
Nurul said that the Bekasi legislative council would soon
observe and examine the environment around the dump site,
including residential areas.
The latest complaint will seemingly prolong the dispute
between the city administration and the Bekasi mayoralty over the
dump site, which started late last year.
The Bekasi mayoralty has threatened to close the 104-hectare
dump site should the Jakarta Sanitary Agency fail to implement a
proper sanitary landfill system.
The as many as 18,000 local people living around the dump site
have frequently complained about the environmental degradation
due to the improper garbage handling in Bantar Gebang. Some have
suffered from skin problems, diarrhea and other illnesses,
reportedly due to the waste.
In February, residents burned a dump truck belonging to the
city administration. They said they were upset with the drivers
who dumped the waste outside the dump site.
The dispute then cooled down after a series of meetings
between both sides, mediated by the central government. The deal
was that Jakarta was still allowed to dump its garbage in Bantar
Gebang until 2003.
In March, Governor Sutiyoso handed over a cheque worth Rp 14
billion to Bekasi Mayor Nonon Sonthanie. The money was part of Rp
22 billion promised by the city administration to improve the
sanitary landfill system and the social facilities for residents
around the area. Another Rp 8 billion is supposed to be given
next year for similar purposes until the dump site is closed in
2003.
The Bekasi mayoralty is assigned to maintain Bantar Gebang and
report the development to the Jakarta administration. There was
no explanation why the Bekasi councillor did not check with the
mayor over the implementation of the renovation and repair works
funded by the Rp 14 billion.