Residents protest pollution

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.