More residents complain over electric cables

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)