Residents near dump demand reparation

BEKASI: Hundreds of residents from Taman Rahayu in Bekasi protested against the Bantar Gebang dump Monday for allegedly polluting their groundwater and causing respiratory illnesses.

"Our water is not safe anymore, and the stench from the site has caused illnesses," said Ronny Badrun from the Taman Rahayu Community Forum (Formas).

The subdistrict is located next to the 108-hectare dump. Residents said other subdistricts located near the dump site had received regular compensation from the Bekasi regency since 2004 because of the pollution, but Taman Rahayu was yet to receive any.

"In 2004, the Bekasi administration and residents near the site agreed to compensation for residents in Cikiwul, Ciketing Udik, Sumur Batu and Taman Rahayu. But in practice, the residents in Taman Rahayu never received any," he said.

Ronny said they asked the regency to pay each Taman Rahayu family Rp 100,000 (US$9) per month, to pay for artesian wells and to cover the health costs of sick residents.

The residents said that they had received the results of a survey conducted by Bekasi Public Works Agency showing that the groundwater in the subdistrict contained manganese and ammonium above the permitted levels. -- JP