City urged to buy water cathment plot<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta mayoralty is urging the city
\nadministration to purchase a 300 hectare plot in Jagakarsa
\nsubdistrict in an effort to preserve it as a water catchment
\narea.<\/p>\n
Mayor Pardjoko told reporters yesterday that the 300 hectare
\nplot is currently privately owned. He expressed concern that the
\nplot could be improperly used, possibly leading to environmental
\ndamage because the area is designated as a water catchment area.<\/p>\n
He also said that an official proposal regarding the land's
\npurchase has been sent to the city administration.<\/p>\n
Pardjoko said the purchase could be made soon because the
\nprice of land in Jagakarsa is relatively cheap, about Rp 500,000
\nper square meter.<\/p>\n
\"The area is also scarcely populated. Therefore, only a small
\nnumber of families will have to be evicted once the
\nadministration decides to use the land,\" he said.<\/p>\n
If the program is successful, the administration can purchase
\nland in other subdistricts in the future.<\/p>\n
Several subdistricts in South Jakarta, including Jagakarsa and
\nPasar Minggu, have been designated as water catchment areas. The
\nlocal administration established more requirements for those who
\nwant to construct buildings in the area.<\/p>\n
Pardjoko said the only way the administration can preserve
\nwater catchment areas in South Jakarta is to purchase the land.<\/p>\n
\"I cannot guarantee that the areas will not change, because
\nmany people think South Jakarta is an ideal location to live. The
\npopulation density in South Jakarta is about 13,000 people per
\nsquare kilometer and it will increase in the future,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to data from the city development board, in 2005,
\nthere will be a total of three million people living in South
\nJakarta, or 19,607 people per square kilometer.<\/p>\n
Pardjoko also said another factor which can reduce the
\nfunction of the land as a water catchment area is the excessive
\nuse of artesian wells in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"Most South Jakarta residents use artesian wells because tap
\nwater service has not yet come to the area. I don't know when the
\ncity water company can improve its services,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Recently, Deputy Governor For Economic and Development Affairs
\nTB. M. Rais said the city administration has been trying to
\npreserve water catchment areas in the city by creating tough
\nregulations.<\/p>\n
Rais said the City Council just passed a provincial decree on
\ndevelopment. The decree stipulates that developers who intend to
\nuse green areas for their projects should pay a great deal of
\ncompensation to the administration.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully, developers will think carefully before proposing
\ntheir plans to us,\" Rais said.<\/p>\n
The money collected from developers who want to build houses
\ncould be used to buy the land proposed by Mayor Pardjoko.<\/p>\n
Ideally, 30 percent of Jakarta's total areas must be green
\nareas. Currently, only 10 percent or 6,500 hectares of space is
\nused for the purpose. Jakarta is home to around nine million
\npeople. (yns)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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