Sutiyoso hopeful on Bantar Gebang

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