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.