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Tangerang students welcomed by dust
New school year: Students walk out of afternoon classes at SMP 21 state junior high school in Benda district, Tangerang, Banten, on Monday
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ew school year: Students walk out of afternoon classes at SMP 21 state junior high school in Benda district, Tangerang, Banten, on Monday. The school is grappling with dust from the construction of the Cengkareng-Batu Ceper-Kunciran toll road to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.(JP/Robert Yota)
The first day of the new school year has always been an exciting time, including for students at SMP 21 state junior high school in Benda district, Tangerang, Banten, even though they were welcomed back with red dust and debris from a nearby national toll road project that has been ongoing for a few months.
Just outside the school entrance there were mounds of dirt about 3 meters high used for the construction of the Cengkareng-Batu Ceper-Kunciran [CBK] toll road that is to go to the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
During The Jakarta Post’s visit to the school, dust was blown by the wind into the school grounds, creating a semi-suffocating environment for students and teachers.
Dust was scattered inside classrooms, restrooms and the futsal field in the middle of the school.
“School activities proceeded as originally planned. A number of students complained of eye irritation and sneezing but most of them were energetic and enthusiastic to be back here,” acting principal Sarnoto said on Monday.
Sarnoto demonstrated the level of dust in the air by holding out his cell phone. Minutes later, dust was sticking to the screen.
He said that the teachers and security guards sprayed water on the dust inside the classrooms in the morning before classes started. In addition, construction workers of PT Wijaya Karya Tbk (WIKA), the developer in charge of the project, sprayed water on the dirt mounds to reduce the dust.
Sarnoto claimed that before news spread online about the school’s dust problems, WIKA had conducted construction during school hours.
“When we had examinations back in April, they were also drilling stake piles into the ground, which created loud noises that disturbed the students’ concentration.”
He said that since last week, WIKA had stopped working during school hours and only proceeded on the evening and early morning. Sarnoto hoped that, out of good faith, WIKA would at least supply his students with masks to prevent them from inhaling dust.
According to 13-year-old eighth grader Andika Saputra, he and his friends were not too bothered by the dust and debris.
“We still play outside during lunchtime. Of course, we’d rather be in a situation where there isn’t any dust, but we don’t pay attention to it.”
Wanda Sulhijah, 14, even purchased cilok [tapioca meatballs with peanut sauce] right next to the dirt mounds.
“Most of us are used to the situation by now.”
SMP 21 spokesman and Indonesian language teacher Muslih explained that there are two plots of land registered under the school’s name in the land ownership certificate (SHM).
One plot of land, which was donated by nearby housing developer PT Alam Raya, is owned by the Tangerang administration and is where the school building, futsal field and garden are located.
The other plot of land is owned collectively by the school’s parents. The toll road needs to intersect the parents’ piece of land to be completed.
Furthermore, the security post next to the school building is also to be demolished as it is in the way of the toll road.
As of now, neither WIKA nor state-owned toll operator PT Jasa Marga have communicated with Muslih or any of the parents regarding the compensation that is supposedly required to be paid to the land owners.
When asked about the compensation, project manager and WIKA employee Mahmud said that he did not know about how the reimbursement was going to be done.
“I’m just following orders from the higher-ups. However, I do know that the Tangerang Education Agency, the school principal and WIKA representatives are planning to meet soon to discuss and negotiate.”
Similarly, construction worker Rizki was also reluctant to hint at what sort of plans WIKA or Jasa Marga have in mind to solve the dust problem.
“We were given orders to spray the mounds in order to prevent dust from flying into the school. Other than that, we just proceed with construction based on the working hours ordered by the project manager.”
As the bell rang marking the end of classes, parents started gathering in the parking lot to wait for their sons and daughters. A few of them covered their noses with handkerchiefs.
“By now, it’s too late for me to pull my son out of this school because of the dust problem. He has good friends and is happy to be here. However, I hope WIKA or Jasa Marga are conscious about the health concerns caused by the project. I expect them to do something about it,” said 43-year-old parent Bunani.
At about 1:30 p.m., parents and their kids started departing from the school grounds. Subsequently, a number of construction workers started walking back to the site after previously sitting in a nearby warung. (bry)
