Govt urged to review policy on electricity towers
Govt urged to review policy on electricity towers
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI)
urged the government yesterday to review its policy on the
construction of 500,000 volt electricity towers and to take into
account the health of people living in the area.
Bambang Widjojanto, the operational director of YLBHI said in
a statement yesterday the state-owned electricity company (PLN)
and the Ministry of Mines and Energy have yet to attempt to solve
the problem being faced by people living near the high voltage
cables.
Bambang, however, said that based on scientific research
conducted by international scientists, such as Electrical Power
Research Institute, U.S.A., in 1991 and Swedish Dr. Lenart
Tomenius in 1986, the strong electromagnetic radiation of the
electricity cable network causes tumors.
He said the conclusion drawn by the scientists is also
supported by the research of two American scientists, Nancy
Wertheimer in 1972 and David Savitz in 1987.
Recently around 120 residents of Ciledug Indah housing estate
in Tangerang, Greater Jakarta, went to the headquarters of the
National Commission on Human Rights to complain about the bad
effects of high voltage cables suspended over their housing
complex.
The residents said they have physically suffered since PLN
activated the 500,000 volt electric current flowing through
cables suspended over their housing complex.
Complained
The residents complained of headaches, nauseousness, irregular
heart beat and skin irritations.
During an inspection of the site on Thursday, two members of
the commission, Brig. Gen. (Ret) Roekmini Koesoemo Astoeti and
Djoko Sugianto, witnessed a current tester illuminating when one
of the Ciledug Indah residents touched it to a television
antenna.
Bambang urged the government vis-a-vis the PLN officials in
charge to talk with people whose house locations are affected by
the high voltage current, including those living in Ciledug,
Kiara Condong in Bandung, West Java, and Singosari in Gresik,
East Java.
"PLN should talk with them in order to save them from either
electromagnetic radiation or technical accidents which jeopardize
their lives," he said.
Bambang also asked the government to issue a new policy
concerning the placement of electricity towers, a policy
protecting people against any harmful effects.
He said the present ruling about high voltage electricity
cables and towers does not safeguard people's health concerns
because it says the existing high voltage electricity towers are
safe and no further assessments need to be conducted.
Bambang said that past accidents serve as strong proof that
people's apprehension of living near high voltage electricity
towers could be correct that it poses a hazard to their lives. He
specifically mentioned an explosion which occurred at Singosari
towers and the collapse of an electricity tower in Kiara Condong
a few years ago. (mas)