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Residents reopen access to Bekasi landfill after promise of ‘stench money’
Residents living near the Burangkeng disposal site in Bekasi, West Java, have unblocked access to the area after being promised compensation for putting up with the stench.
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Access to the Burangkeng waste disposal site has been closed by residents demanding compensation for putting up with the stench. (kompas.com/ Dean Pahrevi)
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esidents living near the Burangkeng disposal site in the regency of Bekasi in West Java have unblocked access for the authorities to enter the area after being promised compensation for putting up with the stench.
At the beginning of this month, hundreds of residents protested and demanded that the regency pay each family in the village “stench money” of Rp 270,000 (US$18.90) per month, the same amount received by residents of neighboring Taman Rahayu village.
The residents also demanded that water canals be built in the village and that improvements be made to the dumpsite’s road and maintenance.
Read also: Bekasi villagers demand 'stench money' for living near dumpsite
The compensation is similar to a concept applied to residents living near the Bantar Gebang landfill, the final disposal site of Jakarta’s garbage.
Burangkeng village secretary Ali Gunawan said access to the site had been opened at 8 a.m. on Monday, and garbage trucks were able to enter the area again after the administration agreed to meet the demand of the residents, kompas.com reported.
“Basically the Bekasi regency administration has promised compensation for residents and is drafting a legal basis to support the move, because [we] don’t want them to break the law,” Ali said, adding that a visit to the Bantar Gebang landfill was planned.
Separately, Bekasi Regency Environment Agency sanitation division head Dodi Agusa said the compensation would be disbursed through the village funds. (fac)
