Developers need to exchange data<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Environment Sarwono
\nKusumaatmadja called yesterday for better exchanges of
\ninformation between real estate developers in order to prevent
\nconflicts of interest.<\/p>\n
\"There's nothing wrong with large-scale development, but if
\nmegaprojects are centered in one area, such as Greater Jakarta,
\nthere are bound to be conflicts over spatial arrangements, water
\nsources and pollution control,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sarwono was speaking on the topic of the business ethics of
\ndevelopers in environmental management at the national congress
\nof the Indonesian Real Estate Developers Association.<\/p>\n
The minister told the third day of the congress that early
\naccess to information on water supplies could prevent conflicts
\nof interest from occurring.<\/p>\n
\"Information on water sources is the top priority for
\ndevelopers,\" he said, \"because how can real estate industries
\nsurvive if there's a shortage of water?\"<\/p>\n
Sarwono even suggested that the developers themselves should
\nset up a center for information services, saying that such
\ninformation could be pooled from various government bodies. \"It
\ncould even be a good business,\" he added.<\/p>\n
However, outgoing association chairman Enggartiasto Lukita
\nsaid it is the government that should set up the proposed center,
\nas it has the best access to the information.<\/p>\n
\"But if the government has other priorities, developers could
\nhelp by collecting the funds for the information services,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said developers could have the required environmental
\nimpact analysis conducted in a much simpler manner if an
\ninformation center for developers existed.<\/p>\n
The minister told the developers to be responsible in their
\nuse of the information they have. For instance, if the
\ninformation they have implies that they choose another site for
\ntheir project, they should do so, he said.<\/p>\n
Enggartiasto promised that the leadership of the association
\nwould develop further the Sarwono's idea of an information
\ncenter.<\/p>\n
The congress will hold its chairmanship elections today.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said that developers face great risks if they treat
\ngovernment land use permits as a form of guarantee that the land
\nin question is free of environmental problems.<\/p>\n
A developer with \"a pro-active ethical attitude\" would not be
\ncontent with pocketing a permit, he said. Sarwono conceded that
\nthe officials issuing permits for land use may not understand
\nenvironmental matters.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the responsibility for the preservation of the
\nenvironment rests with developers, he said. \"And in that they
\nshould be guided by ethics...which depend on proper information,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said that since developers are increasingly becoming
\npart of the nation's \"strategic elite\", they are expected to show
\na higher degree of professionalism. He said there was an urgent
\nneed for developers to show \"ethical commitment\". (anr)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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