Residents storm factory accused of polluting the water supply
Residents storm factory accused of polluting the water supply
I.D. Nugroho, The Jakarta Post/Pasuruan
Amid recent reports of alleged mercury contamination at Buyat Bay
in South Minahasa regency, North Sulawesi, residents of Karang
Rejo subdistrict in Pasuruan regency, East Java, plugged up on
Monday a waste outflow channel belonging to chemical producer PT
Sorino Corporation.
The incident erupted on Monday morning when over 1,000 angry
residents stormed down to the company's factory on Jl. Raya
Gempol in Pasuruan upon suspicions that chemical waste and by-
products from the company had polluted the local water supply.
The company produces sorbitol, a hyperosmotic laxative used to
treat constipation.
Upon seeing the mob of residents approach, security guards
with Sorino established a human cordon, preventing them from
breaking into the premises.
At first, the residents protested in front of the factory
gates, demanding that Sorino executives meet with them. A few
minutes later, assuming that the demand was ignored, the mob
began shoving against the cordon of security guards.
Outnumbered, the residents easily broke through the cordon and
began throwing construction materials and wood into the waste
channel.
"We wanted the chemical factory to shut down the waste
channel, but they refused. So we have been forced to shut it down
by force," said Yusuf, the coordinator of the protest.
The factory has allegedly been dumping chemical waste and by-
products into the local river since its establishment in 1986.
In the early years of its operation, local residents did not
express any concerns over the chemical waste. This year, however,
they began complaining about the pollution of the local rivers
and artesian wells.
The well water turned reddish, they said, and they could no
longer consume the water for fear they would fall ill. Karang
Rejo residents were thus forced to buy water from mobile water
vendors.
Aside from the river and wells, the protesters claimed local
paddies had also been affected by the water pollution.
"Local farmers couldn't bring in a harvest, as the plants had
died of water pollution," said Yusuf.
Sorino executives refused to speak to journalists about the
issue.
"The executives of the company are not available for
interviews," a security guard told The Jakarta Post.
A source at the company said Sorino planned to build a waste
processing facility, but the residents had jumped the gun and
forcibly closed down the waste channel.