Residents Suffer Power Loss, Respiratory Problems as IKN Project Accelerates
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10 June 2024 21:38 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The East Kalimantan Mining Advocacy Network (JATAM) reported that the core area of Indonesia's capital city of Nusantara (IKN) has been off-limits to the public since mid-2024 as the infrastructure project has been accelerated. The government is reportedly eager to hold the Independence Day celebration on August 17 in the new capital.
Mareta Sari, a representative of East Kalimantan JATAM, said the construction project was being accelerated and was reportedly running almost 24 hours a day. The project work could be monitored from Jalan Poros Negara in the IKN core area.
“Sometimes power outages occur in Sepaku, Pemaluan, and Bumi Harapan. But in the central area of the development, the power is always on,” Mareta told Tempo on Monday, June 10.
According to her, the loading and unloading activities of barges passing by the coast of Bumi Harapan Village are more active than ships in other areas. The barges carry sand, stones, and sometimes iron. The East Kalimantan JATAM team visited three ports.
“We still don't know if the port has a permit or not,” she said, expressing suspicion because there are still shrimp and fish ponds around the port.
She underlined that the barge activity on the riverbank has damaged the ecosystem. “Residents have started to worry that the barge could hit the pond at any time because there has been no attention at all about it.”
Locals have been unable to simply protest activities related to the construction of the megaproject, as it often ends in intimidation, Mareta said. In March 2024, nine residents of Pantai Lango were arrested and detained by the Penajam Paser Utara Police. “They were then released but the suspect status remained.”
Respiratory Problems
A resident of Sepaku Harianto mentioned that residents were suffering from acute respiratory infections (ARIs) due to exposure to dust from the IKN project. However, he said, the issue was being deliberately covered up.
“If we ask the Community Health Center (Puskesmas), there is no data on ARIs. Many residents also suffer from red-eye disease due to the dust,” he added.
According to him, residents had asked for compensation but there has been no clarity from the IKN Authority or the Penajam Paser Utara Government. While he has no objection to the IKN project, he hoped that the project would not deprive residents of their right to life.
Harianto went on to say that the security around the IKN area, especially the core area, has recently been beefed up by the police and military. “There are now 2-3 security officers at Simpang Beringin. There were none before,” he said.
IRSYAN HASYIM (CONTRIBUTOR)
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