Residents protest pollution

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: The development of a trade center here has polluted Yotefa Bay, Jayapura residents told visiting State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja during a dialog Wednesday.

"The pollution has made it difficult for those living in the villages of Tobati, Injros and Nafri to catch fish, shrimps and snails," the general secretary of the Dian Harapan Yotefa Foundation, Nikson Dawir, was quoted by Antara as saying.

More than 100 hectares of mangrove forests were cleared to make way for the trade center, which is being built over two rivers. "The bay is also being used as a dump site," he said.

Sarwono called on the provincial and municipality administrations to study and correct the problems. He said pollution was the result of a lack of communication and foresight on the part of the province's government, the public and non- governmental organizations over the need to preserve the country's natural resources.