Allegedly Polluting The Environment, Tangerang Residents Protest Demanding This Metal Factory Close

A number of residents of Cengkok Village, Sentul Village, Balaraja District, Tangerang Regency, Banten stage a demonstration (ANTARA)

TANGERANG - A number of residents of Cengkok Village, Sentul Village, Tangerang Regency, Banten held a demonstration demanding the closure of a metal factory owned by PT Sinar Logam Indonesia (PT LSI), because it is considered polluting the surrounding environment.

During the action, dozens of residents came to the Balaraja District office, Tangerang Regency to convey their aspirations.

"We demand that PT SLI be closed on the grounds that it is very dangerous for local residents and the environment from the impact of the zinc B3 raw material," said Community Leader of Sentul Village, Balaraja District, Muhkam Hudaya, after holding a hearing with government officials from Balaraja District, Tangerang, Antara, Monday. , January 3rd.

According to him, in addition to licensing issues that have not been resolved, the presence of the factory is also very dangerous for the health of residents and the surrounding environment due to the management of toxic and hazardous waste (B3).

"Actually, we had given the company flexibility in the EIA process to be corrected first. It turned out that the company did not meet the requirements and finally we asked for a complete stop," he said.

Therefore, he said, his party together with a number of residents urged the local government, particularly the Tangerang Regency Environmental Service, to enforce the law and restore environmental conditions by revoking and closing the company.

"Actually, legally, it's settled, there are no more permits at this time. Now we have stopped, whose names have been stopped, meaning that there are no more new permits, because our residents have never given permission again," he said.

He emphasized that if in the near future there is no action or improvement on the factory that pollutes the environment, the residents will take further action with a larger crowd.

"In the future, if the company operates again, we will continue to take action at any time. Anyway, we will take legal action, win or not," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Economic and Development Section of Balaraja Sub-district, Hasbullah, said that after discussing it with the residents, he asked for the closure of companies suspected of having polluted the surrounding environment.

However, regarding the issue of the company's licensing, it will re-check with the Tangerang Regency Environmental Service.

"So, I will report the results of this meeting to the leadership, and God willing, tomorrow we will be together to check with PT LSI," he said.