Governor says Bojong plant will open next April
Governor says Bojong plant will open next April
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Governor Sutiyoso will push for the controversial Bojong waste
treatment plant in Bogor regency to open in April despite the
violent opposition to the facility.
"The plant begin operating around April after the operator
finishes repairing it," the Governor said on Friday at City Hall.
Plant operator PT Wira Guna Sejahtera (WSG) said earlier it
would require a month to repair about Rp 8 billion (US$860,215)
worth of damage done to the plant during a violent protest by
residents.
Sutiyoso said his administration had received the backing of
the House of Representatives to go ahead with the plant's
operation.
When it is fully operational, the Bojong facility is expected
to be able to handle 2,000 of the 6,000 tons of waste Jakarta
produces daily.
The opening of the plant has been delayed several times by
opposition from nearby residents.
A protest on Nov. 22 turned violent when residents attempted
to set the plant on fire. Residents are concerned the plant will
cause environmental damage and cause health problems similar to
those suffered by those living near the Bantar Gebang dump in
Bekasi municipality.
Police officers fired on the protesters, injuring six.
Eighteen residents were tried for causing a disturbance, while
six police officers received administrative sanctions.
The city administration has allocated Rp 42.3 billion in the
2005 draft budget for tipping fees for WSG.
"We have allocated the tipping fees in next year's budget
because we are optimistic that the plant will be operating next
year," Sutiyoso said.
City Council Commission D deputy chairman on development,
Muhayar, said the council had approved the allocation of funds
for the Bojong plant. However, he said the council had questioned
the figure proposed by the City Sanitation Agency.
"Even if the plant is fully operational for the entire year,
the city will only need about Rp 38.23 billion," he said. "We may
cut the allocation to Rp 20 billion as the plant will only start
operating in April."
The Bojong plant was designed as an alternative to the Bantar
Gebang dump, which has been the city's main dump since 1986.
The administration originally planned to use a German-made
Bale press at the Bojong plant. However, WSG decided to install
incinerators instead.
Jakarta plans to develop another incineration plant next year.
The proposed Rp 400 billion plant would be able to process about
3,000 tons of waste daily.