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)