Yogyakarta City Government Investigate Liquid Waste In Yogyakarta Tugu Area

Drivers pass through the Tugu Pal Putih area, Yogyakarta. (ANTARA/Luqman Hakim)

YOGYAKARTA - The Yogyakarta City Government conducted an investigation into the emergence of overflowing liquid waste on the north side of the Yogyakarta Pal Putih Monument, which had caused motorcyclists to slip.

"Where to look for the cause, what is the waste. Even though it is visible but it needs certainty. Today an investigation or evaluation is being carried out," said Acting Mayor of Yogyakarta Singgih Raharjo as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, November 1.

His party has checked at the location after obtaining information related to the overflow of waste, followed by cleaning and extracting waste emerging from the culverts on the north side of Tugu Yogyakarta.

The Public Works, Housing and Settlement Areas (DPUPKP) together with the Yogyakarta City Transportation Service have moved quickly to ensure traffic in the area is not disrupted due to the overflow of liquid waste.

"Suppression is carried out so as not to interfere with traffic flow and be cleaned so that it is not slippery, because information on social media has fallen," he said.

If based on the investigation, elements of the violation will be found, Singgih ensures that action is taken against those deemed responsible.

"We emphasize that if there is a violation, we will take action," he said.

Head of the Yogyakarta City PUPKP Service, Hari Setyowakono, admitted that in the northern side of the Yogyakarta Tugu, there were indeed waste water channels and not rainwater channels.

When cleaning the canal, Tuesday (31/10), it was found that many fat crusts indicated to be food fats, causing clogged channels and waste to overflow to the road.

"Actually, the waste that is included in the waste water channel has at least been processed first, especially food waste," he said.

Therefore, the Yogyakarta City DPUPKP traced the source of the waste and after it was discovered that the source who disposed of it would be asked to make a "gree trap" or fat trap.

"There is a kind of fat trap that flows into the waste channel, not the fat. Yesterday the fat got closer to the asphalt," he said.

Secretary of the Yogyakarta City Satpol PP Hery Eko Prasetyo said that if it contains an element of intent, the waste disposal can be subject to sanctions in accordance with Yogya City Regional Regulation (Perda) No. 18 of 2002 concerning Hygiene Management in the form of imprisonment for a maximum of three months or a maximum fine of IDR 50 million.

"But that must also be investigated first. Of course, the Yogyakarta City Government for the imposition of sanctions that are repressively judicial is the last resort," he said.