Sutiyoso trashes dump pollution complaints
Sutiyoso trashes dump pollution complaints
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The city administration negated reports of environmental damage
at its dump in Rawamalang, Cilincing, North Jakarta, saying that
such damage would not ensue immediately after its opening.
Governor Sutiyoso was irked by reports that residents at the
alternative site -- following the Jan. 4 closure of Bantar Gebang
dump, Bekasi -- had protested about environmental damage.
"That's a lie. It's impossible," he said, but quickly added
that the East Jakarta administration would check the dump.
Media reports said many residents of the neighborhood had
complained of the impact of the open dump. Some have claimed that
maggots and other pests from the dump came into their homes.
Another newspaper quoted several locals who said that the
waste, which was dumped haphazardly, had polluted the groundwater
and killed their pond fish.
When asked why the alternative dump was not equipped with
proper waste treatment facilities to prevent damaging the
environment, Sutiyoso underlined that "the dump will only be used
temporarily".
He added, however, that his administration would take
responsibility for any environmental damages caused by the dump,
but declined to say what measures this would entail.
Jakarta stopped dumping its 6,000 tons of daily waste at
Bantar Gebang after 17 years, following complications over the
Jakarta-Bekasi dump contract, which expired on Dec. 31.
Prior to the expiration date, Bekasi mayor Akhmad Zurfaih and
Sutiyoso had agreed to renew the contract, but the extension was
opposed by Bekasi councillors, as it was made without their
knowledge.
The controversy over Bantar Gebang grew as residents who lived
near the dump protested about health and environmental woes.
In what seemed a personal move, Bekasi deputy mayor Mochtar
Mohammad sent a facsimile to Sutiyoso to annul the extension
while proposing new conditions, including a Rp 85,000 (US$10)
processing fee for every ton of waste from Jakarta.
Jakarta spokesman Muhayat revealed that the city sanitation
agency planned to meet with the Bekasi administration to discuss
the fate of the dump on Saturday.
In a related development, Mochtar said on Friday that Taufik
Kiemas, a legislative member and also the husband of President
Megawati Soekarnoputri, would visit the dump on Sunday, but
declined to reveal the purpose of Taufik's visit.