More residents complain over electric cables
JAKARTA (JP): About 30 people representing 84 families in Kampung Dukuh, Ciledug, Tangerang, complained to the House of Representatives yesterday about high voltage cables over their houses.
The complaint was made following similar protests stage by 120 families of the nearby Ciledug Indah housing complex.
The Kampung Dukuh residents were received by several members of the Golkar faction of Commission VI overseeing mines and energy.
Husni, spokesman for the complainants, said they had been restless since the state-owned electricity company (PLN) activated the electric current on the 500,000-volt cables over their houses on Nov. 25.
He said the residents had actually decided to move to a safer place when they heard of the electric cable project last year. In August 1993, the residents asked PLN to acquire their land and houses.
In response to the request, PLN promised to raise the towers so it would be safe for the residents to live there, Husni said. He told the House members that PLN would relocate people living closer than 8.5 meters to the cables.
PLN, however, has yet to raise the towers or relocate residents who have cables too close to their roofs, Husni said.
In accordance with the market price, the residents yesterday demanded compensation as much as Rp 250,000 for each square meter of land and Rp 300,000 per square meter for buildings.
The complainants said they believed their lives are in danger as a current tester lighted up if touched to the roofs of their houses.
"After it rained the tester lighted up when we touched it to a bamboo pole or the string we use to hang clothes on," another resident said.
Ali Rasjidi, a deputy chairman of Commission VI, said the house members are concerned about the situation and have promised to discuss the matter with PLN.
"PLN employees might not be afraid living under high-voltage cables, but it is understandable that you, as common people, are restless," he said.
The House had earlier received similar complaints from residents of the nearby Ciledug Indah housing estate, who were also affected by the high voltage cables.
The housing estate residents also lodged their complaints to the National Commission of Human Rights.
In response to the complaints, the rights commission asked PLN to turn off the current, which the company refused to do.
PLN said the project was necessary for the distribution of electricity in a number of areas, including the Ciledug area.
An official of PLN said that the height of the towers had been raised from the original nine meters to 15 meters, and that it is safe living under the cables. (sim)