Bekasi's arable land sacrificed for projects<\/p>\n
By Sri Murniati<\/p>\n
BEKASI (JP): The rapid development of Bekasi, a satellite town
\nsome 20 kilometers east of Jakarta, is beginning to concern
\nlocals, as thousands of hectares of arable land are turned into
\nindustrial and residential estates.<\/p>\n
Bekasi, formerly known as one of West Java's rice centers
\nalong with Karawang, Subang and Indramayu, has abandoned
\ntraditional farming for the trappings of modern urban
\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
Bekasi regency covers a total area of 148,437 hectares.
\nHowever, the amount of arable land has been decreasing in line
\nwith the development of industrial and residential complexes.<\/p>\n
Records indicate that the housing sector has used 22,114
\nhectares of land. According to the 1985 city plan, only 21,790
\nhectares were earmarked for housing.<\/p>\n
Industry has swallowed a total of 3,600 hectares, even though
\nonly 511 hectares were allotted under the 1985 plan. The Bekasi
\nadministration has agreed to spare another 6,000 hectares of land
\nfor industrial zones.<\/p>\n
So what is left for agriculture? What are the farmers to do
\nwhen they lose their livelihood?<\/p>\n
Bekasi Regent Moch. Djamhari recently reported that Bekasi, at
\na growth rate of 6.29 percent, expects a population of eight
\nmillion in 2000, when rice production will only be enough to meet
\none-quarter of the local needs.<\/p>\n
Will permits still be issued to developers at this rate?<\/p>\n
Regional Legislative Council Speaker H. Abdul Manan, in a
\nsession to commemorate the regency's 45th birthday in August,
\ncriticized the developers using irrigated land for housing
\nconstruction.<\/p>\n
The transformation of agricultural land into residential and
\nindustrial areas is clearly visible.<\/p>\n
As of 1995, more than 430 housing complexes were built in
\nBekasi regency, including Tambun and Pondok Gede. They all have
\nobtained permits from the Bekasi regional administration.<\/p>\n
Productive<\/p>\n
The areas of Cibitung, Cikarang, and Lemah Abang have been
\ndesignated industrial zones. A number of factories and housing
\ncomplexes also occupy the area north of the highway between
\nBekasi and Kedung Waringin, where rice fields were once very
\nproductive.<\/p>\n
In 1994, 111 preliminary permits were issued to 27 developers,
\nwho then destroyed 2,918 hectares of arable land and irrigation
\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
The Bekasi regent has said that the issuance of the permits
\nwas acceptable and in line with zoning plans, which are valid
\nuntil 2003.<\/p>\n
The 27 companies making use of irrigated land in the Tambun
\ndistrict are PT Aneka Berkat Sukses (90 hectares), PT Bekasi Asri
\nPemula (90 hectares), PT Tamarisindo Utama (15 hectares), PT
\nWaska Sentana (75 hectares) located in Karangsatria district; PT
\nCiptalaksana Graha Prima (71 hectares), PT Nandya Villa (27
\nhectares), PT Papan Lintas Indah (15 hectares), PT Citra Villa
\nJatisari (8 hectares), PT Surya Sakti Bumi Persada (9 hectares),
\nPT Bumi Mahkota Sejahtera (8 hectares) with development in the
\nMangun Jaya and Satria Jaya villages; the Cooperatives of the
\nTrade Department (5 hectares), PT Duta Putra Mahkota (85
\nhectares), PT Tri Daya Suluh Sembada (55 hectares), PT Panji
\nGraha Indah (40 hectares), PT Sanghiang Hadi Karya (75 hectares)
\nare using land in Sumber Jaya village.<\/p>\n
PT Jaya Giri Sarana (5 hectares) in Tridaya Sakti village, PT
\nBumi Prima Alam Indah (19 hectares) in Jejalan Jaya village, PT
\nAbadi Guna Papan (80 hectares) in Karang Satria village, PT
\nParamita Sembada (110 hectares) and PT Citra Villa Bojongkulur
\n(100 hectares) in Wana Jaya Cibitung village. PT Putra Delta
\nLestari (1,500 hectares) in Serang district and Cibarusah and PT
\nChandrata Gryaland (150 hectares) in Cilangkara village, Serang
\ndistrict. Housing complexes occupying agricultural land in
\nTarumajaya district are PT Agra Dyariva (15 hectares), PT Panca
\nMedia Rumah Utama (200 hectares), PT Ispi Pratama Lestari (11
\nhectares) and PT Duta Putra Mahkota (150 hectares) located in
\nSetia Asih village.<\/p>\n
Some of these companies are now appropriating the land, while
\nothers have started with housing construction. In the process, a
\nnumber of irrigation canals north of Bekasi have been destroyed
\nin the ares of Babelan and Tarumajaya. As many as 147 irrigation
\nstructures, 13 secondary canals and five waste canals are now in
\ncritical condition.<\/p>\n
In the Cibitung district at least nine secondary canals and 60
\nirrigation structures have been damaged. The canals were built by
\nthe Jatiluhur dam authority. It is not known what losses the
\nJatiluhur company (Perum Otorita Jatiluhur) has suffered as a
\nresult of these damages. The 29-km Cikarang Bekasi Laut river
\nirrigation project, built in 1982 with Rp 600 billion in World
\nBank aid, initially meant for irrigation, is functioning to its
\nfull potential.<\/p>\n
The damages to the irrigation network and the loss of
\nthousands of hectares of rice fields will clearly have a negative
\nimpact on Bekasi's role as West Java's granary. Investors in
\ndevelopment are stepping up their financial dominance, while
\nfarmers continue to be pushed to the margins. The tendency of the
\ngovernment to side with the money holders has not only called
\ninto question the fate of landowners in the area, but the entire
\nfuture of agriculture in Bekasi.<\/p>",
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