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)