Residents rally over electricity

Residents rally over electricity

BANDUNG: The West Java Legislative Council met with 200
residents from the districts of Arjasari, Banjaran, Solokan Jeruk
and Ciparay on Wednesday who demanded the council assist them in
settling a dispute with state-owned electricity firm PT PLN.

Mansyur, the leader of the group, said they wanted PLN to
relocate them because the presence of the 500 KV electricity
cables above their housing complexes had seriously affected their
health.

"When I check my roof with my test pen (used to check for an
electric current) the pen's light turns on, as it does when I put
the test pen against my body," Mansyur said.

The head of the local PLN office, Usman Hidayat, denied the
residents' claim. He said that according to the World Health
Organization (WHO) there was no danger associated with living
near electricity cables.

The residents also rejected Usman's offer of up to Rp 17
million in compensation for each family, saying they only wanted
a safer location in which to live. (25)