23 June 2009

Environmental agency urged to tackle BaliÃ¢â¬â¢s sewage stink

DENPASAR - BaliÃ¢â¬â¢s politicians are taking up the fight against hotels and restaurants accused of discharging sewage into the drainage systems in the Legian and Seminyak areas.

It is claimed that the sewage is reaching the sea through drains and rivers.

According to Bali Update (www.balidiscovery.com), quoting local sources, the Badung Environmental Agency (BLH) is being called on to determine the source of pollution in the area.

One legislator blames the raw sewage discharging onto Kuta's famous beach as being caused by hotels and restaurants in the area who are ignoring regulations which require every place of business to have its own sewage capture and treatment system.

A visit by a group of lawmakers to the seaside gutter on the edge of Jalan Double Six saw evidence of both kitchen-chemical waste and raw human sewage flowing into the waters of the popular public beach.

As reported by NusaBali, one hotel was found to be sending its dirty dishwater to a nearby drain.

The charge was denied by a staff member of the hotel who opened a cover over a local drain showing waste flowing from other locations further away.