Batam residents protest data centers amid water crisis
Residential areas have their clean water supplies cutoff completely while data centers in Nongsa Special Economic Zone enjoy sufficient water.
Residents in Batam are staging protests over a severe water crisis, with clean water supplies completely cut off in residential areas while data centers in the Nongsa Special Economic Zone continue to receive ample water. Hundreds of mostly housewives stormed the Nongsa SEZ management office on Saturday, demanding an explanation for the water shortage.
The protesters cited the absence of mitigation measures by SEZ management and the city administration, expressing frustration that they no longer receive water even for basic sanitation. Videos circulating on social media showed the demonstrators at the management office. Water crises have affected multiple residential areas in Batam, including Baloi Paradise and Anggrek Permai in Lubuk Baja district, with water supplies reportedly drastically reduced in the past week and completely cut off from Saturday until Monday.
BP Batam deputy for commercial affairs, Denny Tondano, stated that his office is still investigating the cause of the water stoppage and assured that they will take immediate action once the issue is identified.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
