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Bekasi villagers demand 'stench money' for living near dumpsite
Residents demand the regency pay each family in the village Rp 270,000 (US$18.90) per family per month.
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Access to Burangkeng waste final disposal (TPA) is closed by local residents, who have demanded compensation money for living near the TPA. (kompas.com/ Dean Pahrevi)
P
rotesting residents of Burangkeng village in Bekasi, West Java, have closed access to a nearby waste disposal (TPA) site for 10 days, demanding the local administration pay “stench money” compensation.
They have demanded that the regency pay each family in the village Rp 270,000 (US$18.90) per family per month, the same amount received by the residents of neighboring Taman Rahayu village.
Burangkeng village secretary Ali Gunawan said the situation of the villagers was similar to that of those living near Bantargebang dumpsite, where residents receive compensation from the TPA owner, the Jakarta administration.
“Jakarta pays compensation to Bekasi City, Sumur Batu subdistrict, Bantargebang subdistrict, Cikiwul subdistrict and Ciketing Udik subdistrict. Why can’t Bekasi regency pay compensation to residents of Setu district in Burangkeng village?” Ali said.
He warned that Burangkeng residents would forcibly close Burangkeng TPA if the administration failed to provide the compensation money to them.
Hundreds of protesting Burangkeng residents have blocked access to the TPA since March 4, causing trash to pile up nearby.
Besides demanding the stench money, the residents also demand that water canals be built in the village and that improvements be made to the dumpsite’s road and maintenance. (ami)
