Tangerang residents to help clean up

TANGERANG (JP): Authorities here said the national award for cleanliness only applies to the township that wins the award and not the regency.

The statement was in response to residents' complaints that even though Tangerang was one of the recipients of this year's Adipura Award, they take no pride in it because their surroundings remain dirty.

"It has to be understood that the administration cannot make the whole of Tangerang clean," mayoralty spokesman Nurhayat said Saturday.

Currently a cleanup program, focused on the Tangerang township which was once known as one of the dirtiest cities in the country, is being conducted.

"The administration only named the town as the representative of Tangerang to be evaluated by the national committee of the award," Nurhayat said.

Critics arguing that the regency does not deserve the award say authorities turn a blind eye to the poor construction and management of facilities like roads and sidewalks.

Poorly constructed roads are mostly over five kilometers long. These include Jl. Pasar Raya Kemis and Jl. Karawaci Raya. Part of them border areas of the township and other parts of the regency.

Debris from repairs, waste and overflowing sewers fill the roads.

Irna, 23, a local private employee, asked "Didn't the committee see all these poor roads?"

Mayor Djakaria Machmud pledged to expand the cleanup program to the overall area of Tangerang, spokesman Nurhayat said.

The administration recently provided 100 new garbage trucks with 500 workers, he said.

However, public participation is badly needed to help achieve the goal. (28/bsr)