Waste Emergency; Walhi: Bekasi Must Build Infrastructure

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A member of the Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi), Bagong Suyoto, advised Bekasi regency administration to build waste management infrastructure in Burangkeng landfill, Setu Sub-district, as the regency planned to expand the landfill area from 11.6 hectares to 35 hectares.

The regional administration is reportedly preparing a revision of the spatial planning (RTRW) and its derivatives, detailed spatial planning (RDTR), which was investigated by the anti-graft body (KPK).

Several officials and private parties were nabbed in this case, including East Java regional secretary Iwa Karniwa.

“In a study on waste management in Burangkeng conducted by Cipta Karya Directorate General at Public Works and Housing Ministry and Bekasi regency administration in 2014-2015, the landfill will be overloaded in the next two years,” said Bagong to Tempo, Tuesday, September 11.

However, he said that no action has been taken so far. He also lamented the expansion project which was set aside as the RDTR drafting in 2016 resulted in the bribery case of Meikarta project. The case is related to the RDTR created by the administration.

The environmental activist stressed that Bekasi Regency Neneng Hasanah Yasin, who is sentenced to six years in jail by Bandung Corruption Court, put more concerns about a third party’s interest rather than people’s interest.

“A landfill as a public service is fundamental, and the regent must have understood because this is extremely urgent,” Bagong remarked, adding that garbage in Burangkeng landfill is still managed traditionally.

Therefore, he suggested the government implement total rehabilitation. “There are two fire incidents throughout August. This is harmful to the environment,” he underlined.

Bagong pinned hope the expansion area can be realized as soon as possible so the government can develop the technology.

Bekasi Regency’s Spatial Planning Agency head Evi Mutia admitted that the procurement of technology on waste management is necessary in order to deal with garbage in the region without expanding the landfill area.

ADI WARSONO