Sepatan residents in need of clean air, factory waste odour protests go unheeded
Sepatan, Tangerang Regency - Residents of Sepatan have been in the spotlight again after a protest banner in front of the Sepatan Village office went viral on social media. This action is a form of desperation for residents who have been exposed to the pungent odour of oil factory waste in the Akong industrial area, Sepatan for years.
Sejumlah spanduk dengan tulisan seperti “Langit Tetep Biru, Udara Tetep Bau” dan “Pa Bupati Tolong, Kami Sepatan dan Sekitarnya Kalo Pagi Meletuk Suka Bau Limbah Pabrik, Tolong!” menjadi saksi nyata keresahan warga yang merasa keluhannya diabaikan.
Waste odour has been detected since 2019
According to residents, the smell of oil or gas that allegedly comes from factory activities has been smelling since 2019. Every night until dawn, this pungent smell disturbs the comfort and health of residents. They complain of nausea, dizziness, and worry about long-term health impacts, especially on children and pregnant women.
The village head of Pisangan Jaya, Sepatan sub-district, also expressed his frustration that the local government had not responded to his complaints. Although there have been inspections and warnings, the smell of sewage always returns after some time.
Suspected Source of Pollution: Oil Processing Plant
The main suspicion of air pollution points to PT CKL, a used oil processing plant operating since 2015 in the Akong area of Sepatan. The factory received a strong warning from the local government and even sanctions from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) in 2019 for violations of hazardous waste processing and utilisation activities.
In addition, PT CKL was also involved in a legal case in 2018 related to the production of oplosan diesel from used oil without a valid B3 waste management permit. Despite being temporarily suspended, the factory's activities continued because the closure authority was not in the hands of the district government but the central government.
Health and Environmental Impacts
Air pollution from factories and industries can produce a variety of harmful pollutants, such as sulphur dioxide, hydrocarbons and toxic particles that have serious health impacts. Continuous exposure to air pollution can cause respiratory problems, ARI, asthma, and even increase the risk of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Sepatan residents claim to have already felt health impacts such as nausea, dizziness, and respiratory problems. Their concerns are heightened by the fact that their children have to learn and grow up in a polluted environment, as illustrated in a protest poster that reads, ‘Our children learn to breathe waste from the womb’.
Residents' Demands and Government Response
Residents hope that the banner-posting action in front of the village office will open the government's eyes and speed up the handling of this problem. They demand concrete solutions, ranging from law enforcement to environmental restoration efforts. The Tangerang District Government has conducted several inspections and warnings, but long-term solutions have yet to be realised.
The Sepatan air pollution case is a clear portrait of weak supervision and law enforcement against polluting industries. Residents are not only demanding clean air, but also the right to a healthy environment for future generations. As long as the government does not act decisively, the protest banners of Sepatan residents will continue to serve as a reminder that the clean air emergency is a real issue that can no longer be ignored.
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