Residents want gas station closed

JAKARTA: Residents of Kramat Sentiong subdistrict, Central Jakarta, demanded Wednesday the closure of a gas station which they accused had polluted the neighborhood.

Over 60 residents staged their protests at the Central Jakarta municipality office over their polluted ground water.

They said the water had made them suffering skin problems, nausea, headaches and respiratory problems.

They insisted the administration to order the state gas and oil company Pertamina to close the gas station.

Some of the protesters were seen carrying banners, some were read: "We are killed by Pertamina".

One of the protesters, Arnold Arif, said that although the seepage of fuel had contaminated their ground water over one year now, Pertamina had turned a deaf ear toward their call.

The residents demanded Pertamina to pay Rp 10 million (US$1,176) in compensation and to build water installation for around 3,000 residents. -- JP