Operator not ready for Bojong dump

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The opening of Bojong dump in Bogor regency to accommodate 2,000 tons of the capital's daily waste has to be delayed from the original schedule of Aug. 15 because operator PT Wira Gulfindo Sarana (WGS) is not ready.

City Secretary Ritola Tasmaya refused to elaborate on the exact reasons behind the delay, but quickly denied that the rescheduling was caused by local residents' opposition. People living around the dump have threatened to burn down the German- made high-tech bale press machine and Jakarta's dump trucks carrying waste to the dump.

Around 20 Bojong villagers met with councillors from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) on Friday to express their opposition to the opening of the 25-hectare dump.

Triyoso, one of the villagers, said the construction of the dump would be a violation of the Bogor regency Bylaw No. 17/2000 on spatial planning. The bylaw stipulates that Bojong is designed for tourism and residential areas.

Deputy Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo said his administration would coordinate with the Bogor Police to secure the dump to deter villagers who might threaten the operation.

The regency earlier issued the permit for Wira Gulfindo to operate the dump in the area.

The Bojong dump will process some 2,000 tons of waste per day. Its operation will reduce the burden of 6,000 tons of waste produced by Jakartans that goes to Bantar Gebang dump in Bekasi each day.

Residents living in Bojong have said they oppose the dump, because they fear they will suffer from environmental damage and health problems like some Bantar Gebang residents. Jakarta has promised that the bale press technology would be sanitary and environmentally friendly.