Sand quarrying activities protested

Sand quarrying activities protested

BEKASI (JP): Ninety villagers of Cijambe in Serang district, Bekasi, filed a written protest with the Serang district chief over a private company's sand quarrying activities in their village.

Copies of the letter were sent to the Bekasi regent, the local military commander and the district police chief.

Several villagers told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the PT Indoseni's quarrying activities have dried up wells in their village.

"They have also caused the earth in front of our houses to crack," said one of the villagers, demanding that the company restore the area and correct its dangerous practices.

Serang district chief M. Toha confirmed that he had received a protest letter from the villagers. He said, however, that for the time being he could do nothing because the quarrying company has an official permit from the West Java governor.

He promised that if the quarrying activities were really responsible for drying up local wells, he and Bekasi administration officials would ask the governor to review the company's permit. (12/bas)