Sawmill causes eye pain to residents

BOGOR (JP): Dozens of residents of Kampung Sawah village in Cilendek subdistrict have been suffering pain in their eyes which they say is caused by airborne wood shavings from a local sawmill.

"The flying wood shavings and dust comes from the sawn wood (from the factory) causes itching in our eyes, then swelling like it's done to my eyes," Sri Sumarsih, 35, a resident, said, showing her swollen eyes.

Mohammad Syafawi, a noted local figure, said the people are also annoyed with the location of the mill, in the middle of the residents' housing.

"For 15 years, the people here have been disturbed with the pollution and the noise coming from the sawmill," he said.

Moreover, he added, at least five trucks carrying logs roam the neighborhood back and forth from the wood producing firm, PT Primasari.

"When the logs are unloaded onto the ground, houses located near the sawmill are usually jolted," Syafawi said.

The Jakarta Post also saw a mass of wooden waste and wood shavings floating along the Cidepit River in the neighborhood, clogging the flow of the river.

Syafawi said the company never asked permission from the residents to run the business in their neighborhood.

No Primasari executives could be reached for comment. (21/asa)