Residents Near Jatiwaringin Landfill Demand Relocation After Days-Long Fire

Residents living near the Jatiwaringin Final Processing Site (TPA) in Mauk District, Tangerang Regency, Banten, are hoping the government will relocate their settlement. The demand has arisen due to residents’ long-standing anxiety over the pollution impacts of the Jatiwaringin TPA, exacerbated by a severe fire that has been raging at the site for more than a week.

A resident of Tanjakan Mekar Village, Rajeg District, Tausyani, stated that the settlement is situated extremely close to the waste disposal area. He believes this condition is highly hazardous to the residents’ health. “My personal wish is to be relocated because the TPA is so close to the residential area,” Tausyani said on Tuesday (7/7). He explained that the problems faced by residents are not only the fires that frequently occur during the dry season but also the overpowering stench during the rainy season. “Especially during the dry season, fires often happen; during the rainy season, the smell is terrible. What we fear most is if a landslide occurs,” he explained.

Tanjakan Mekar Village Head, Uti, revealed that the most affected area is RT 14/RW 06. In this area, there are approximately 70 houses inhabited by around 150 families, located very close to the TPA boundary. “The distance between residents’ houses and the TPA is about one metre,” Uti said. According to Uti, relocation is a solution that should be considered to protect residents from the pollution impacts and disaster risks associated with the Jatiwaringin TPA activities. “Hopefully, with this fire incident, the government will pay attention to our residents regarding the relocation plan,” he stated.

However, Tangerang Regent Maesyal Rasyid confirmed that the Tangerang Regency Government currently has no plans to relocate residents living around the Jatiwaringin TPA. “No, there is no relocation. But in accordance with applicable regulations, even if they own the land for their residence, they must have a permit first, as there is a risk of contamination from the impacts here,” the Regent asserted.