Luar Batang Residents Complain about Diminishing Water Supply
29 May 2016 16:24 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hundreds of residents that chose to stay above the ruins of their demolished semi-permanent dwellings at Luar Batang's Fish Market in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, have complained about access to clean water, which has begun to diminish since the area was cleared up by Jakarta's Administration on April 11, 2016.
Clean water - which to date, is supplied aid from volunteers - is getting harder to acquire. Since the demolition and eviction, residents that chose to stay have been relying on aid from volunteers, and clean water were supplied through tanks that are located in a makeshift mosque near their temporary shelter.
However, the supply has begun to decrease since four days ago, complained Cicih, a 47-years old resident of Luar Batang who chose to say. "Usually, the water from the reserve tanks are distributed to a makeshift public washroom and toilet near our shelter, but these days, the tanks are often empty," she complained.
As a result of the diminishing supply of water, said Cicih, any water that's left in the reserve tank are rationed - and is prioritised for ablutions. "Now, I have to go to a public bathroom and pay to meet my needs for clean water," said Cicih on Saturday, May 28, 2016, as she was rebuilding her hut.
Another resident, Supradi, said that disruptions to clean water supply have actually begun around one month prior to the demolition. That said, despite the increasing difficulty, Supradi said that the majority of residents who chose to stay, will remain in Luar Batang, because they are sure that the aid from volunteers will continue to flow.
"Eventually, it will get better - especially since the month of Ramadan is coming," said Supradi. "I've heard that more volunteers are coming in to donate food and water for us for us to break our fast, when the month of fasting comes."
It is known that the demolition of Luar Batang's Fish Market is a part of the government's plan to revitalise the area surrounding Jakarta's Maritime Museum - which it plans to turn into a tourist attraction. Jakarta's Administration also plans to revitalise the historic Luar Batang Mosque, which the Administration claims will be turned into a centre for Islamic tourism.
The demolition itself were met with protests from affected residents, who said that they the revitalisation of the area does not require the demolition of the surrounding areas - especially considering that residents that reside there, have lived there for decades.
Residents whose homes have been demolished, have insisted on staying and rejected any plans for relocation. Currently, they are housed in a temporary shelter built by volunteers and residents.
LARISSA HUDA