Sutiyoso hopeful on Bantar Gebang

JAKARTA: Governor Sutiyoso expressed his optimism that he would be able to successfully negotiate with the Bekasi municipal administration for the planned extension of the Bantar Gebang garbage dump contract, despite increasing calls from several Bekasi councillors to terminate the contract.

Sutiyoso said he had several times held talks with the Bekasi mayor to discuss various issues, including the dump, to forge cooperation.

"I don't believe Bekasi will end the contract since the administration does not have strong reasons to do it. We even plan to expand our cooperation on how to make use of the garbage," he said.

A number of Bekasi councillors called on the mayor on Tuesday not to extend the contract because of the deteriorating environment in the area. Jakarta dumps around 6,000 tons of garbage there each day.

Jakarta experienced a garbage crisis in late 2001 when the Bekasi administration closed the dump because of environmental concerns. -- JP