Gresik and Its Industries, Who Is Benefited?

    Gresik is a small city in East Java with a wide area of 1.191,25/Km² and 1.326,420 residents. Gresik has eighteen districts, such as: Balongpanggang, Benjeng, Bungah, Cerme, Driyorejo, Duduk Sampeyan, Dukun, Gresik, Kebomas, Kedamean, Manyar, Menganti, Panceng, Sangkapura, Sidayu, Tambak, Ujung Pangkah, and Wringin Anom. Gresik is known as a Santri city. Santri here is not the original meaning because it is the abbreviation of the word Kawasan and Industri. It happens because there are a hundred industries from home until large scale industry. The largest cement factory, namely Semen Gresik, is located in this small city and is followed by other famous companies such as Petrokimia Gresik, Nippon Paint, BHS-Tex, Polywood Industry, and Maspion. Moreover, our president, Joko Widodo, inaugurated the establishment of Smelter Freeport in Gresik on October 12, 2021. It will be the biggest smelter single line in this world that can earn an average of 35 tons of gold per year with a transaction value of IDR 30 trillion. However, with many industries in Gresik nowadays, it could be seen as a good opportunity for all parties, either investors or people in Gresik itself. Although those industries can support the economic system in Gresik, many people argue about some negative impacts that would appear.

    Firstly, the development of those industries is not equal because it only concentrates on three districts: Gresik, Manyar, and Kebomas. Those districts are known as the city center of Gresik. Since the industries have significant growth, many newcomers and foreign investors chose to live in the city rather than in the village. As a result, many villagers do not receive the benefits of it. Importantly, they are just profitable for some businessmen, investors, and people in the city. However, the regional government in Gresik realizes that, and as a solution, they plan to build a satellite city in fifteen districts, which are far away from the city center. Even though developing a satellite city seems to be good planning, the reality is it has proven nothing until now. In 2010, the government also planned to build a new industrial area called Pantura (Pantai Utara) and a port facility in the Bungah district. Both of them are just like non-sense projects. If the government implemented that plan, it would improve the economic system in all districts, and of course, the government's responsibility to support the welfare of its community has succeeded. Many districts located north of Gresik cope with some natural potentials used as their occupation. For example, Ujung Pangkah district. Most people there work as a fisherman. People here do not feel the promised prosperity from those industries due to the infrequent number of investors who touch the corner area.

    Secondly, many infrastructures such as hospitals, schools, and houses are being developed only in the city center. The focus on industrial activities in the city has led to the neglect of development in other districts. Although the total number of hospitals in Gresik is quite many, almost are located only in the city. Besides that, the quality of school buildings in the city center is better than other schools in the village. The central government focused on development so they would close their eyes to other problems. Not only that, but many road accesses in villages also need to be prioritized. However, in 2017, the regional government, helped by many entrepreneurs, aimed to develop an economic area in north Gresik. Referring to JawaPos.com, the leader of Kamar Dagang and Industri (Kadin) of Gresik, Lailatul Qodri, argued that north Gresik has a strong potential in terms of economy and abundant natural resources. To a certain extent, they are right. But their plan is not working until now. Secretary of Commission III DPRD Gresik Abdullah Hamdi stated several records and evaluations of infrastructure development. He revealed that often development planning and implementation are different. There is a weakness in terms of management. Therefore, we ask for further attention to solve it" he said. This statement proves the weakness of the central government system in dealing with development. Even in this pandemic era, infrastructure development is the key to people's economic recovery. In addition, infrastructure development must be immediately expanded to other areas considering the conditions in Manyar, where the JIIPE, Industrial Estate Gresik is located, was currently very crowded.

    Lastly, the increasing number of industries in Gresik nowadays affects many negative impacts on the environment. The Environment Service (DLH) of the Gresik Regency Government claimed that emissions released caused by industrial activities in the city center are high. In 2019, based on the air quality index (IKU) measured by the East Java Provincial Government (BLH), Gresik had the worst IKU in East Java, which was 65.81. Not only the air contamination, currently water and soil pollution are becoming new problems. Those are the reasons people here demonstrate against the development of new industries. They feel the negative environmental impact of those old industries, especially if building the new one in the same area. Several people also commented on Instagram' post of Governor Khofifah and President Joko Widodo regarding the construction of the Freeport Smelter at JIIPE. They claimed that the development of this large industry in Manyar would make the road access more congested, air pollution increase, and industrial growth unequal. However, the leader of the DLH, Mokh Najikh, has a solution to minimize the air pollution problem, which is practicing green industries by adding green open space (RTH). Even if it is good news, the reality is different. In addition, a letter regarding a request for additional green open space in the industry environment did not counter seriously. The number of RTH in Gresik is not ideal yet. According to the data, the RTH area of the new city is approximately 716,35 hectares or 15,48%, while the minimum number is 30%. 

    As a city with the largest industry in East Java, Gresik is also the main driver of the economic system in the capital city, Surabaya. The number of some industries here is increasing. Besides that, the development of the Freeport smelter at JIIPE, which can earn an average of 35 tons of gold per year with a transaction value of IDR 30 trillion, encourages many investors from Indonesia and foreign investors to live and invest in Gresik. Those developments aim to help people’s needs, provide many new workplaces, and improve the infrastructure to get better. Those plans do not implement due to unequal industrial development. Since the economic cycle only happens in the city, it makes people in the villages do not get the benefits from those industries. Several efforts of regional governments to expand development, improve infrastructure, and restore the environment do not have a tangible result. With this in mind, most parties who benefited from the industrial development in Gresik are entrepreneurs and shareholders. The indigenous people who live in the city center and the village do not fully feel the benefits of those industries. People who live in the city center can apply for jobs properly, but they have to feel the environmental impact like air contamination, water pollution, and traffic jams. Finally, others people who live in villages are neglected.

Hi fellas! Kindly informing you all that this writing aims to give piece of knowledge for people who get interested in knowing more about Gresik. With this matter, I would like to clarify that this content was truly based on my own research. Besides, this to show up my beloved hometown in term of a dedication from my deepest heart. With this in mind, I would be glad if  each of you shares this along with my name written in as showing a respect. 

Cheers up!

Sayyidatinah S