Angered By Coal Transport Langgar SE, Batanghari Jambi Residents Block Malapari Intersection, Central Sumatra Cross Road Paralyzed

JAMBI - Residents of Batanghari Regency, Jambi Province, precisely in Sridadi Village, blocked the Central Sumatra Cross Road demanding that the government regulate coal transportation which is disturbing the community.

"Today we took to the streets together to enforce the Jambi Governor's circular No. 1165/Dishub-3.1/v/2022 concerning Coal Transport Traffic Regulations in Jambi Province," said the head of the Community Empowerment Institute (LPM) Sridadi Nahrowi in Batanghari. reported from Antara, Monday, June 6.

The road blocking was carried out by residents on the central Sumatran causeway, precisely at Simpang Malapari, RT 16 RW 05, Sridadi Village, from 09.00 WIB.

Residents of the area demanded that coal transportation comply with the Jambi Governor's circular regarding the operational hours of coal transportation. Where in the circular letter stipulates that the operational hours of coal transportation are allowed to pass at 18.00 WIB.

However, since the governor's circular was issued, the coal transportation driver seems to have ignored the regulation, and was still passing by before 18.00 WIB.

"We want coal to follow the rules that have been set, especially the operating hours," said Nahrowi.

As a result of the road blockage, the Central Sumatran highway was paralyzed. Observations in the field of traffic jams totaled more than twenty kilometers, where congestion occurred from Pasar Baru Village, Muara Bulian District to Muara Tembesi Market, Muara Tembesi District.

Those involved in the road blocking action agreed to close access to traffic if regional officials and also the chairman of the DPRD were not present at the location of the action.

The Sumatran cross road which is blocked by the community is an access road from Jambi Province to West Sumatra Province and South Sumatra Province. In addition, this road is the only connecting road from Jambi City to six other regencies in Jambi Province, namely to Bungo, Tebo, Merangin, Sarolangun, Kerinci and Sungai Full Regencies.