Governor saves the last dance for Monas laser fountain<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
This year, Jakartans were treated to Rp 15 billion worth of laser
\nlights in the National Monument (Monas) Park to commemorate the
\ncity's 477th anniversary. Next year, a \"dancing water fountain\"
\nwill be installed in the park to mark the city's anniversary
\ncelebration.<\/p>\n
\"The fountain is designed to provide residents with a place to
\ninteract, enjoy recreation and relax amid the hustle and bustle
\nof life in the capital,\" Governor Sutiyoso said at City Hall on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
\"The fountain will be a new attraction for tourists visiting
\nJakarta.\"<\/p>\n
Great efforts have been made by Governor Sutiyoso to improve
\nthe park, which ironically has been fenced off to the public.
\nAmong his innovations was the introduction of a herd of deer. At
\nleast 30 of the ruminants now roam the park.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said the construction of the fountain would be fully
\nfinanced by a private sector company as part of a barter scheme,
\nwith the firm gaining the right to billboard advertising spots.<\/p>\n
\"The fountain will not cost the city anything. In addition, we
\nwill also obtain tax revenues from the billboard spots,\" he said
\nafter a meeting with executives of the PT Media Indra Buana (MIB)
\nadvertising agency.<\/p>\n
Previously, PT MIB gained the right to use a number of
\nbillboard spots following the beautification of the Hotel
\nIndonesia traffic circle in 2002. That project cost Rp 14
\nbillion.<\/p>\n
The City Parks Agency, which will be responsible for the new
\nfountain's construction, has yet to calculate how much it will
\ncost.<\/p>\n
The fountain will feature 14 \"dances\" accompanied by music,
\nmostly classical compositions.<\/p>\n
Assistant to City Secretary for Development Affairs, Hari
\nSanjoyo, said Sutiyoso had ordered that the fountain's
\nconstruction be completed before the city anniversary on June 22.<\/p>\n
City Council development commission chairman Sayogo
\nHendrosubroto said the barter deal had to be transparent and open
\nso that other private sector parties could also take part.<\/p>\n
He said the deal could give rise to public controversy as many
\nadvertising agencies were interested in obtaining the right to
\nuse the billboard spots as most of them were located in strategic
\nplaces.<\/p>\n
Besides the fountain, the parks agency will be undertaking
\nanother beautification project on Jl. Diponegoro in the plush
\nMenteng area of Central Jakarta. The agency plans to erect a
\ngiant equestrian statue of national hero Prince Diponegoro, which
\nwill be placed in the center of a fountain in front of Suropati
\nPark. The statue is a gift from property tycoon Ciputra.<\/p>\n
Over the past two years, the administration has been busy
\ntrying to beautify the city. Among the projects undertaken are
\nthe Rp 4 billion renovation of the Arjuna Wijaya statue in front
\nof the Indosat building and the Rp 3.5 billion construction of
\nthe General Soedirman statue on Jl. Sudirman. None of the deals
\nwere made via tender or in transparent manner.<\/p>",
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