Swallows' nests turn Medan into ghost town

Swallows' nests turn Medan into ghost town

By Apriadi Gunawan

MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Visit Kawasan, Kampung Keling,
Ayahanda, Tembung, Labuhan Deli, Sanggal and Padang Bulan and
almost any other part of this capital city of North Sumatra, and
observe the almost overnight emergence of tall buildings there.

Unlike the tall buildings in many other cities, nobody dwells
in these ones. They are not beautiful architecturally. In fact
they are gloomy and spooky for they have been built for the sole
purpose of allowing swallows to nest.

These parts of the city are slowly being turned into something
resembling a cemetery, or a ghost town where only the shrill
screams of the fast-flying birds pierce the silence. The stench
of bird droppings is one reason why many people have become
annoyed with the presence of these swallow's nest businesses in
their midst.

Some people believe that not only are the eerie structures an
eyesore, but that the scattered bird droppings are a source of
disease. There is another nuisance: the constant, nerve-racking
and ear-piercing shrills imitating the sounds of the birds
produced by special devices to lure the birds into the buildings.

According to Dr. A. Naiboru, MSc, a biomedical expert from the
University of North Sumatra, the noises produced by the swallows
can disrupt humans and create discomfort.

Naiboru explained that if the sound intensity went beyond 85
decibels (dB(A) for eight hours at a stretch per day or 40 hours
a week, it could be classified as disruptive, causing people in
the vicinity to suffer from insomnia. And if the sound intensity
is over 95 dB(A), eventually it could cause deafness in the
people in the proximity of the source.

During the day, swallow-like noises from cassettes to attract
swallows blare even louder than the roar of the hustle and bustle
of the city -- a sign that people involved in the swallow's nests
business are unaware of the grave impact the shrieking sounds
have on life in the vicinity.

"We only hope that the noises from the cassettes can lure more
swallows," said Tony, a swallow's nest businessman of Chinese
descent in Kesawan.

Tony let it be known that because of the noise, he is able to
attract birds and make millions every month, despite the noise
being irritating to others.

The nests, which are individually pasted together with bird
saliva, can fetch Rp 16 million to Rp 17 million a kilogram. "The
higher the value of the dollar, the more money we earn," he said.

It stands to reason that more and more people have been drawn
to this kind of business. Unfortunately, the city administration
and the regional legislative council have not paid much attention
to the matter, and have not taken advantage of the city's
potential. Up to date not a single ruling has been made with
regard to this lucrative bird's nest business, which could draw a
handsome revenue for the city's coffers.

The division head of the city's public relations, Ismunandar,
acknowledged that no law to govern the business had been enacted,
but said there were plans to implement a regulation in 2002.

Ismunandar further said: "Now the members of the legislative
council are hammering out a regulation concerning this business
and now those who wish to construct a building for nesting
swallows must abide by prevailing regulations," referring to
building permits (IMBs), under which only three-story buildings
can be constructed.

Realizing that the buildings for nesting swallows spoil the
city's views, the city administration plans on relocating them to
the northern coastal areas such as Medan Belawan, Medan Labuhan
and Medan Marelan. Ismunandar, however, is uncertain whether the
plan will go through because demolition and reconstruction of the
buildings would cost a lot of money.

Medan Mayor Abdillah once promised to straighten out
irregularities and demolish offending buildings, but so far no
measure has been taken. On the contrary, these ugly buildings are
mushrooming in the area and many shop owners have transformed
their shops into tall, gigantic concrete structures for the gold-
laying birds.

Last Wednesday, legislator Martius Latuperisa in Medan said
that the mayor must demolish the buildings immediately because
they contravened city regulations. He added: "These structures
are of no benefit to the general public. They are the breeding
ground of various dangerous ailments for the local people.

"There is no denying that the owners get some backing from
certain people, otherwise the buildings wouldn't be there, and
those who back them up are sitting at ease in the city
administration or even in the regional legislative council,"
Martius charged, without naming any names.

Perhaps the city of Asahan could be one of the first regional
administrations in North Sumatra clever enough to see the golden
opportunity of this prolific business.

With a recently approved regional ruling regarding the
swallow's nest business already on hand, the city has managed to
put Rp 500 million in its coffers in less than a year. City
planning has also become better organized. According to Bustami,
faction head of the United Development Party in Asahan, the
ruling emerged as a result of the uncontrollable construction of
buildings for nesting.

"Here we have more than 1,500 structures and around Kisaran
there are about 200," Bustami said. "Before the issuance of the
regulation, the city was just like a ghost town and many
residents denounced the existence of the structures."

The new regulation stipulates several points related to
height, occupancy and sales tax. For example, the sales tax is 10
percent to 15 percent, buildings must not exceed a height of 30
meters and the first floor must be designed like a residence and
be occupied. Apart from that, the owner is to calculate the
environmental impact of his building."

Those who do not go by the book are liable to criminal or
civil sanctions.

Since harvest time varies according to the number of swallows
visiting a building -- with some reaping their harvest once a
month, but others mostly on a quarterly basis -- the city
administration, therefore, has set up a team to monitor tax
evasion.

The nests are generally exported to Singapore and China, where
history shows that swallow's nests were consumed by royalty. The
Chinese strongly believe that the nest, besides being tasty, has
healing properties for various ailments.