High voltage cables upset residents

High voltage cables upset residents

JAKARTA (JP): At least 750 families from three subdistricts in
East Jakarta are demanding that state electricity company PLN pay
compensation for part of their land over which high voltage
cables are being erected.

The inhabitants say they should be compensated because many
people believe that living near high voltage cables is a health
hazard and this will cause the value of their land to drop.

Fifty of the complaining families come from Pondok Bambu
subdistrict, 500 from Cipinang Melayu and 200 from Jatinegara.

"My residents expressed great concern that the sale prices of
their land would drop substantially," Sumroni, head of the Pondok
Bambu subdistrict, said.

"Some representatives of the families came to me two or three
weeks ago, asking for the compensation. I told them that since it
was a PLN project... I asked them to settle it with the
company," Pabrani, head of Cipinang Melayu subdistrict, said on
Tuesday.

Bambang Suseno, head of Jatinegara subdistrict, said, "The
residents once tried to protest the project, but were driven away
by soldiers."

Vickner Sinaga, head of the transmission project, could not be
reached for comment, but his subordinate said the soldiers were
not stationed there to frighten local people.

"They are just for the protection of PLN equipment on the
field."

He explained that a settlement had been reached last week
between Vickner and the residents whose land would be affected by
the project. Under the settlement, each family in Jatinegara
subdistrict will receive compensation of Rp 500,000, he said.

"I don't know about the compensation for those in other
areas," he said.

The official further said that the transmission project was
needed to replace the existing Bekasi-Cawang transmission line
which was built in 1965. (ylt)