Residents complain of stench from river

BEKASI: Residents of Setia Asih village, Bekasi, are complaining of the stench emanating from a severely polluted eight-kilometer river that runs through the area.

"The Setia Asih river has become a public dump," a resident, Mayar, 50, said on Tuesday.

The villagers suspect that household waste belonging to residents of Pondok Ungu and Harapan Jaya housing complexes is being dumped in the river.

"Beside the annoying stench, we fear the dump will generate diseases," Mayar added.

The residents urged the administration to take stern measures against litterers and to clean the river.

Deputy regent Solihin Sari said the river was the responsibility of regental water company Perum Jasa Tirta II. --Antara