Chairman queries water decree<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration's plan to strengthen a
\nregulation on water catchment wells will not be effective if city
\nofficials fail to uphold it, a councilor says.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the City Council's Commission D for
\ndevelopment affairs, Bandjar Marpaung, said yesterday that the
\neffort was good but would not work if officials were not serious
\nabout supervising the implementation of the decree and enforcing
\nit.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Prawoto S. Danoemihardjo, an assistant to the
\ncity secretary, said the administration planned to convert a
\ngubernatorial decree which obliges public and private building
\nowners to construct water catchment wells into a provincial
\ndecree.<\/p>\n
The plan was proposed because the administration considers the
\ngubernatorial decree, issued in 1992, fails to compel people to
\nbuild catchment wells.<\/p>\n
Bandjar said that weak supervision can be seen by the fact
\nthat only 1,000 out of 16,766 people applying for building
\npermits in the city had built catchment wells.<\/p>\n
Based on the gubernatorial decree, a building permit requires
\nthat all houses must have catchment wells.<\/p>\n
\"Many people violate the gubernatorial decree because it has
\nbeen poorly enforced and supervision has been very weak. The
\nadministration's limited personnel is not an excuse,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The administration also tends to compromise with house owners
\nover the decree, he added.<\/p>\n
Those caught violating the gubernatorial decree are supposed
\nto receive administrative punishment, such as the revocation of
\ntheir building permits. Violating a provincial decree, however,
\nis a more serious matter.<\/p>\n
Bandjar said converting the gubernatorial decree into a
\nprovincial decree is a good idea as a provincial decree is more
\npowerful, and those violating it will get three-month jail terms
\nor be fined Rp 50,000.<\/p>\n
He said the city administration should also launch campaigns,
\nsuch as public presentations, to make Jakartans aware of the need
\nand importance of catchment wells in their houses.<\/p>\n
\"Many people have not been well informed about such catchment
\nwells,\" Bandjar said.<\/p>\n
The gubernatorial decree regulates that all houses should
\nbuild water catchment wells to preserve groundwater. (yns)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/chairman-queries-water-decree-1447893297",
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