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