Expert says public should be involved in city planning<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government should encourage greater public
\nparticipation in spatial planning, in line with its ambition to
\nprivatize more development projects, an expert suggested
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
The public is currently hardly involved in spatial planning,
\nSujana Royat, chairman of the Association of Indonesian Spatial
\nMaster Planners (IAP) said.<\/p>\n
"Who can deny that development of regions and cities is
\ncontrolled by only a number of Indonesians described as
\nconglomerates," he said.<\/p>\n
"It is because the conglomerates have access to information on
\nthe regional and city master plans prepared by the government,"
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
Sujana said the people's access to information on city master
\nplans is guaranteed in Law No. 24\/1992 on regional spatial
\nplanning.<\/p>\n
"Every citizen has the right to know the spatial master plan
\nof the areas in which they live," he said, adding that the
\ngovernment's development program would succeed only if the people
\nparticipate.<\/p>\n
He quoted President Soeharto's recent statement that the
\ngovernment would require an investment of Rp 816 trillion (US$349
\nbillion) to achieve a 7.1 percent economic growth per year in the
\ncurrent five-year development plan (Pelita VI).<\/p>\n
"Seventy five percent of the total investment is expected to
\ncome from the private sector," he quoted the president as saying.<\/p>\n
On the same occasion, the chairman of the Center for
\nInformation and Development Studies (CIDES) Adi Sasono warned
\nthat inappropriate spatial planning may cause uneven distribution
\nof the development gains.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that the inter-region economic disparities
\ncould spark social unrest if they continue unchecked.<\/p>\n
He said the problem cannot be overcome with market mechanisms
\nalone but only with accompanying political will from the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
According to Sasono, the uneven distribution of development
\ngains is a delicate issue that Indonesia should solve without
\ndelay if it does not want to see more social unrest in the
\nfuture.<\/p>\n
He recalled a series of riots that occurred recently in
\nPurwakarta, West Java; Pekalongan in Central Java and Pasuruan in
\nEast Java; and in Timika and Jayapura in Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
"Intense and frequent social unrest could easily disturb
\nnational stability," he warned.<\/p>\n
In spatial planning terms, he said, it is high time for the
\ngovernment to start thinking of developing the regions in such a
\nway that people will not be encouraged to stream to urban
\ncenters.<\/p>\n
"If regions are properly developed, people wouldn't have to go
\nto the cities to seek a better standard of living".<\/p>\n
Greater community participation in spatial planning and
\nregional development will be discussed in a two-day seminar co-
\nsponsored by CIDES and IAP on May 7 to 8.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto is scheduled to open the seminar. (imn)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/expert-says-public-should-be-involved-in-city-planning-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }