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)