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Tempeh producer on 'Black River' refuses to close shop for Asian Games

The owners of tempeh home industries near the Sentiong River – called the "Black River" for its heavy pollution – has refused to stop operating ahead of the 2018 Asian Games, despite the Jakarta administration’s calls for all home industries to do so to reduce water pollution.

News Desk (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Fri, July 27, 2018

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Tempeh producer on 'Black River' refuses to close shop for Asian Games Workers from the Jakarta Water Resources Agency cover a section of the Sentiong River that passes by the newly built Athletes Village in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta. (Kompas/Ardito Ramadhan D)

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he owner of a tempeh home industry on the Sentiong River – called the "Black River" for its heavy pollution – has refused to stop operating ahead of the 2018 Asian Games, despite the Jakarta administration’s calls for all home industries to do so to reduce water pollution.

The small businesses have reportedly dumped untreated waste into the river for years, causing the river to become heavily polluted. The Sentiong has been dubbed kali item, which means "black river".

Abdul Basir, 50, one tempeh business owner, said he disagreed with the Jakarta administration’s call.

“How much can the city administration pay us? Just do the calculation. What should I eat? Will they be able to compensate me for my loss [of income]?” Abdul said on Thursday, as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com.

Abdul said he produced around 6 quintals (600 kilograms) of tempeh per day, each quintal worth Rp 1.5 million (US$103.9). He added the he could make around Rp 9 million distributing tempeh to traditional markets in the capital.

While he admitted to dumping waste in the river, he denied that the waste had made the river "smell bad". Instead, Abdul blamed the tofu businesses in the area for dumping the waste that made the river smell.

Last week, the Jakarta administration covered a section of the Sentiong River with a 689-meter length of fabric that cost Rp 580 million ($40,000), concerned that the smell rising from the river would reach the cafeteria in the Athletes Village, which is located across the Sentiong.

Trisakti University urbanist Nirwono Joga said the administration should have temporarily shut down the home industries to prevent them from dumping untreated waste into the river. (cal)

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