Governor OKs increase in tap water tariffs<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso approved Monday the 25
\npercent average increase in tap water tariffs announced by city-
\nowned water company PDAM late last week.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said he would sign a gubernatorial decree legalizing
\nthe new tariffs.<\/p>\n
He defended PDAM's reasons for the price adjustment, saying
\nthe tariff rise was important to help PDAM overcome financial
\ndifficulties.<\/p>\n
\"PDAM's operational expenses are much bigger than its
\nearnings. It would certainly collapse if it keeps on going that
\nway. That's why the new tariffs were established,\" he said.<\/p>\n
PDAM announced Friday that the new tariffs were effective as
\nof April 1. The decision has been strongly criticized by its
\ncustomers who have complained that it was an improper move during
\na time of economic crisis and that the decision had not been
\nofficially approved by the governor.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso, however, reiterated that the tariff adjustment had
\nbeen made in line with standard procedures.<\/p>\n
\"It was approved by City Council and the Ministry of Home
\nAffairs,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I have studied the matter thoroughly and have received some
\ninput as well. I agree with it (the increase) and know exactly
\nthat my approval is right and natural,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The most important aspect of the new tariffs is that it will
\nnot in any way inflict suffering on poor people because the
\nincrease for them is only between 10.58 percent and 11.42
\npercent, said the governor.<\/p>\n
He added that PDAM had even cut prices for special customers
\nlike orphanages, dormitories run by noncommercial institutes and
\nplaces of worship by 3.85 percent in an effort to maintain its
\ncross-subsidy policy.<\/p>\n
The new tariffs, he said, mostly affected affluent customers,
\nsuch as wealthy families and luxury apartment dwellers, who must
\npay up to 65.71 percent in higher prices.<\/p>\n
\"But such an amount of money would mean nothing to them
\nanyway,\" said Sutiyoso.<\/p>\n
Traffic stickers<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso's stance on wealthy people's ability to cope with the
\nprice hike was also clearly reflected in a statement regarding
\nthe city administration's plan to implement a traffic sticker
\nsystem to ease traffic problems.<\/p>\n
Under the sticker system, each driver of a private vehicle
\nwould have to buy a sticker in order to enter restricted zones
\nduring specified hours. The system is intended to replace the
\nunsuccessful three-in-one regulation.<\/p>\n
\"If people can afford to have cars, then they are not common
\npeople. They are wealthy people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said new city buses would operate to help transport people
\nwho wanted to avoid buying the stickers.<\/p>\n
\"We'll prepare comfortable business class buses for middle to
\nupper class people so that they can enjoy the ride. We'll also
\nprovide new public buses to accommodate other commuters,\" said
\nSutiyoso without elaborating.<\/p>\n
\"I hope we can get the buses imported and operating here
\nbefore the sticker system is implemented. We'll pay for the buses
\nthrough credit with the money we'll get from the sales of the
\nstickers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A presidential decree was issued March 23 to support the
\nsticker system. Presidential Decree Number 50 states that private
\nvehicles should display a sticker when driving on the restricted
\nroads.<\/p>\n
Trials of the new system will be held from August to November
\non Jl. M.H. Thamrin and Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat in Central
\nJakarta and part of Jl. Jend. Gatot Soebroto between 7.30 a.m.
\nand 9.30 a.m. and between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. (ind\/cst)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/governor-oks-increase-in-tap-water-tariffs-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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