Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang, Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Dozens of residents Monday rallied to protest a plywood factory belonging to PT Sumber Griya Sentosa in Sentul Village, Tangerang, for allegedly polluting the area's ground water.
"Water in our wells has turned brownish and smelly. We believe this is because of the factory," said Lastri, a resident.
The residents, mostly housewives and children, protested at the factory's gate. They shouted, asking for the factory to be relocated. However, none of the factory management staff members appeared to meet with the protesters.
Lastri said she and other residents living around the factory could no longer consume the ground water from their wells because the water had turned dirty and smelly.
"We are also afraid of using the water for washing and bathing," she said.
The factory should never have been built in the populated residential area, she said, as it frequently causes problems. Locals want the local administration to pay attention and to tell the company to relocate the factory.
Since the factory was built in the area, residents have frequently faced difficulty getting ground water for their daily needs because the wells have dried up at times, said Mimin, another resident.
"I can't remember how many times I have had to deepen my well to get water since the factory began operating here several years ago," she said.
Factory staff members were not willing to comment when they were asked to respond to the protest.
"Our bosses are not here today and we are not authorized to speak to the press," said staff member, who requested anonymity.
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