Locals want better dump management

Locals want better dump management

BEKASI: At least 30 Bantar Gebang residents and
environmentalists staged a protest at the Bekasi municipal office
on Wednesday, demanding better facilities for local residents
living in the vicinity of the Bantar Gebang dump.

Anen Samsuddin, a resident of Ciketing Udik village, said that
the administration and dump operator should repair groundwater
wells, the public health center, school buildings and an access
road, in addition to making compensation payments that will be
used for community development.

"Many of us suffer from respiratory problems, diarrhea and
skin diseases due to the presence of the dump in our
neighborhood. Queuing dump trucks have been blocking our road for
a week now," added Anen.

Muhammad Donny, coordinator for the residents, told The
Jakarta Post that they would barricade the access road to the
dump if the Bekasi municipality did not respond their demands
within five days.

Deputy Mayor Mochtar Mohammad promised the residents that his
office, the dump operator PT Patriot Bekasi Bangkit and the
Jakarta administration would hold a meeting on Monday to find a
solution to the problems. -- JP