Report confirms that Cilincing dump is polluting vicinity

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A recent report by the Office of the State Minister of Environment confirms areas around Cilincing dump, North Jakarta have been polluted by liquid waste from the dump.

An inspection of the area, conducted on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18, found that five hectares around the dump and nearby fish farms had been contaminated. Reportedly, thousands of farmed fish had already died. Other land in the area was also at risk of pollution as the liquid waste spread.

"This is categorized as water pollution according to Article 1 paragraph 12 of Law No. 23/1997 on the environment," stated the report, which was made available to The Jakarta Post.

The report is supported by laboratory tests and a number of photographs of thousands of dead fish at the farms.

Earlier, the fish farmers had staged a protest against the city administration. But Governor Sutiyoso and officials from the City Sanitation Agency had denied that the dump had caused pollution.

The farmers said that the three-hectare dump, which had opened last Jan. 5, had ruined their businesses.

Expecting to reap a big profit next month, from the fry which they had placed in their farms two months ago, the farmers demanded compensation for their financial losses.

Asmawi, who owns a three-hectare farm, claimed that he had suffered Rp 20 million (US$2,380) in losses due to the impact of the pollution.

Deputy minister for environmental impact management, Tanwir Yasid Mukawi, said the city administration was responsible for the pollution, and should therefore, compensate the farmers.

He said his office was ready to facilitate any talks between the farmers and administration officials. "I agree that the farmers must be compensated," he declared.

Tanwir encouraged the fish farmers to take legal action against the administration should no compromise be reached.

Apart from polluting the water, the dump also has a strong stench which is detectable up to six kilometers away. Many people, including tenants of the low-cost Cakung apartments -- which are located three kilometer away from the dump -- have protested against the foul smell.

While the now-defunct Bantar Gebang dump used a landfill system, environmental damage resulting from Cilincing dump is worse because garbage is piled high on open land without being processed.