Skin disease rampant in Kedunghalang district
Skin disease rampant in Kedunghalang district
BOGOR (JP): Dozens of children in Kampung Babakan, Poncol
village, Kedunghalang district are suffering from skin disorders,
allegedly from untreated liquid ceramic waste.
Local residents suspect the waste originates from PT Sri Intan
Toki, a ceramics producer, which has allegedly been dumping
untreated waste into the Ciluar river for a long time. The river
is a source of water for nearby villages.
Witnesses said the company releases waste every day through
pipelines running under the river, turning the water to a white-
muddy color.
The company, located at No. 323 Jl. Raya Ciluar in Kampung
Kramat, Tanah Baru area of Kedunghalang district, is on the
border of Kampung Babakan Poncol and Kampung Kramat Tanah Baru.
"We are very disturbed by the toxic waste because we use the
river to bathe in and wash our clothes," Suryana, a native of
Kampung Babakan Poncol, said.
Mothers from both villages have protested to the company and
urged the management not to continue releasing waste into the
river, but all efforts have been ignored, Suryana said.
Another resident of Kampung Kramat, Tuti, said the company
gives Rp 7,500 to each family in the neighboring village every
year.
"They said it is a 'holiday allowance' for people.
"But I feel that the money is to hush the locals into not
complaining or protesting the waste that has been polluting the
river and the wells in the villages," Tuti said.
Tuti said all residents must endure a bad odor coming from the
polluted river, which starts about 10 a.m. every day.
"There also is a loud engine noise disturbing the locals ...
it's continuous sound pollution from the company as they work
three shifts every day," she said.
Tobing, the company chief of staff, was not available for
comment on the local protest.
Meanwhile, Wawan Herdian, the chief of the environmental
pollution prevention agency in Bogor, said his office had
repeatedly sent letters to the company asking for research and
laboratory testing.
"But we did not get any response at all. The company must run
environmental tests. But it is impossible for us to run tests
because it costs a lot of money, which we cannot afford," he
said.
"The company signed a document stating its willingness to
participate in waste processing, but obviously they are not doing
so," he added.
He said the company had an obligation to run tests on the
waste being released and the quality of the river water and
ground water.
"Therefore the company is obliged to install a liquid waste
processing device and system. But it has not filled the
requirement yet," Wawan said. (21/edt)