Developers ignore environmental considerations<\/p>\n
DEPOK, West Java (JP): Housing developers do not place
\nenvironmental considerations at the top of their list of
\npriorities, says president of the Indonesian Real Estate
\nAssociation Edwin Kawilarang.<\/p>\n
\"The concept of sustainable development is not yet suitable
\nfor Indonesia,\" he told reporters during a break in a seminar on
\nthe sustainability of urban and regional development yesterday at
\nthe campus of University of Indonesia here.<\/p>\n
\"Sustainable development is not on our list of priorities. The
\nconcept is for developed countries. We are a developing country
\nthat is still struggling to meet basic needs,\" Kawilarang said.<\/p>\n
\"Yes, the concept of sustainable development is needed, but in
\nreality, it's not on our people's list of priorities,\" he added.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that the public rarely considers whether a
\nhouse they wish to buy or build degrades the environment. \"Their
\nfirst and foremost question is: Is it cheap enough?\" he said.<\/p>\n
The seminar was opened by Minister of Public Housing Akbar
\nTanjung at the Center for Sustainable Urban and Regional
\nDevelopment (CSURD), an organization founded by the University of
\nIndonesia's Institute of Technology in cooperation with the
\nUniversity of Melbourne and the Commonwealth Scientific
\nIndustrial Research Organization.<\/p>\n
In his speech, Tanjung urged real estate developers to \"be
\nmore responsible and heed the results of environmental impact
\nassessments\" in their building activities.<\/p>\n
\"Developers must never ignore the assessments for the sake of
\nprofit,\" Tanjung said. He added that the government has issued
\nnumerous regulations on housing development.<\/p>\n
\"The 1993 Broad Guidelines of State Policies instructed that
\ndevelopment should be undertaken to improve people's prosperity
\nand sustain the 'noble values of the nation',\" he said. \"Housing
\ndevelopment should always be done in ways which sustain the
\nenvironment.\"<\/p>\n
In his speech, the minister also declared that 30% of the 190
\nmillion Indonesians live in urban areas and that the country
\nstill needs more than 2 million housing units.<\/p>\n
Tanjung also called on the public to tackle developers over
\nwhether the houses they wish to buy are built in an
\nenvironmentally responsible manner. \"It the housing development
\naffects the environment adversely, don't buy it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The minister's statements were backed by Ismeth Abidin from
\nthe CSURD.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia is in a rapid transformation. Around 40 of its
\ncities will develop into trade centers,\" said Ismeth, who is a
\nlecturer at the university's School of Engineering.<\/p>\n
\"Sustainable development is what we need to safeguard the
\nfuture of the future generations from the adverse impacts of that
\ntransformation,\" said Ismeth.<\/p>\n
The two-day seminar will also feature former environment
\nminister Emil Salim and a number of speakers from Australia. (06)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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