DKI LH Office Denies Residents Have Not Received Health Services Related To Rorotan RDF Bau Pollution

The excavator operator transferred the trash to the waste processing machine at the Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) Plant Rorotan, Jakarta, Tuesday (25/2/2025). BETWEEN PHOTO/Sulthony Hasanuddin/Spt

JAKARTA - Head of the DKI Jakarta Environmental Agency (DLH) Asep Kuswanto denied the statement that residents who claimed they had not received health services after experiencing respiratory problems allegedly due to odors from the Rorotan Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) facility, North Jakarta.

Asep, emphasized that the Health Service together with the Puskesmas around the location had been handling it directly since the beginning of this week.

"Regarding residents who were informed yesterday of coughs, runny noses, and ARI, from Monday afternoon we have coordinated with Mrs. Head of Health Office. And from Tuesday, the health team from the Rorotan Health Center or from Cakung has provided health services to residents," Asep told reporters, Thursday, November 6th.

According to Asep, a total of about 20 residents were reported to have experienced these symptoms. He said some of them had now recovered after receiving treatment.

"So indeed if what is received, it is informed that there are 20 residents. And everyone, Mrs. Kadis Kesehatan conveyed that treatment has been carried out and someone has also recovered," he said.

Asep ensured that health workers had made direct visits to residents' homes in the two affected areas, namely Cakung and Rorotan. Health workers have visited residents in Cakung and in Rorotan," he continued.

Asep said that the RDF Rorotan trial had indeed been stopped according to the direction of the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Pramono Anung. The termination was carried out to ensure the technical readiness of the waste processing facility so as not to cause environmental impact.

"For the trial, yesterday, Mr. Governor of Statement, the trial was stopped first while waiting for the readiness of the compact truck to be able to compare properly and not cause water spills," said Asep.

DLH DKI is currently still waiting for the results of technical evaluations from a number of agencies before determining the follow-up schedule for the Rorotan RDF trial.

Previously, Jakarta Garden City (JGC) resident, East Cakung, East Jakarta, asked DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung and his staff to provide compensation for treatment for residents suspected of having health problems due to a trial operation of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) Plant Rorotan, North Jakarta.

Head of RT 018 RW 014 JGC, Wahyu Andre, claimed as many as 23 children were sick during the Kommissioning RDF Rorotan process. The children are said to have ISPA, cough, runny nose, and eye irritation.

According to Wahyu, the health disturbance was allegedly caused by air pollution and the smell of garbage that was carried into residential areas.

"Where is the responsibility of the local government for the casualties of sick residents? So far there has been no apology, no compensation for medical expenses, and no communication from the DKI Health Office," Wahyu told reporters, Wednesday, November 5.