Walhi: Tangerang City Govt Makes Poor Efforts in Mitigating Rawa Kucing Landfill Fire
Translator
Editor
26 October 2023 12:46 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Forum for the Environment (Walhi) assessed that the Tangerang City government exercised minimal efforts to mitigate fires at the Rawa Kucing landfill because the area has caught fire several times.
Walhi Jakarta recorded that at least 10 fires have occurred at the landfill, which was built in 1992, since 2015. Two fires occurred this year, on September 6 and October 20.
Walhi claimed that the city government had ignored regulations to close the open dumping landfill as stipulated in Law No. 18 of 2008 on waste management.
Referring to applicable regulations, the city government should have abandoned the open dump waste management system in 2013.
“The trash is left untreated and covered with soil, leading to many risks, especially fire,” Walhi said in a press statement on Wednesday, October 25.
Walhi said that the risk of fire is exacerbated by the close distance between the landfill and residential areas, which is about 100 meters.
People residing in the area would surely be affected. People may face health problems due to environmental pollution caused by the open dumping system.
Moreover, the recent fire case caused at least 154 people around the landfill to be evacuated. “72 of them are elderly, children, and babies,” Walhi said.
Walhi also urged the Tangerang city government and the Banten provincial government to distribute appropriate aid to the victims.
NOVALI PANJI NUGROHO
Editor's Choice: Tangerang Govt Declares Emergency on Rawa Kucing Landfill Fire
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
