Maksum Nur Fauzan
The air in Tawang Krajan village in Kedongwinong subdistrict, Nguter district, Sukoharjo regency, Central Java, has been highly polluted since last October. Villagers said the pollution was caused by a rayon factory in the area. They blamed chemical waste from the factory as the cause of the strong odor that has disrupted the villagers’ daily activities, including for students of Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (Islamic elementary school) Muhammadiyah.
Children have to wear surgical masks the whole day while studying to bear the strong odor from the waste.
The school hopes that the factory’s management will take more serious actions in treating the chemical waste so the smell does not disturb villagers living near the factory, as well as not to disrupt the academic activities at the school. [yan]