Govt bans new projects in Puncak<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government yesterday decided to freeze all
\nnew construction in the Puncak area, a popular weekend getaway
\nfor Jakartans, and restore the cool hilly resort into its former
\nfunction as a water catchment for the capital.<\/p>\n
If the announcement was greeted with skepticism, because
\nsimilar statements have been made in the past but were never
\nenforced, State Minister for National Development Planning
\nGinandjar Kartasasmita said this time the government means it.<\/p>\n
\"Is there anyone stronger than the government ... or the
\nPresident, other than the people?\" Ginandjar retorted when
\nreporters questioned whether the government had the will and
\npower to confront \"strong\" people believed to own some of the
\nhotels and the villagers in the Puncak area.<\/p>\n
The announcement was made after Ginandjar, along with Minister
\nof Public Works Radinal Moochtar, Jakarta Governor Surjadi
\nSoedirdja and West Java Governor R. Nuriana reported to President
\nSoeharto at his Jl. Cendana residence.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar said the national spatial planning team which he
\nheaded came up with a set of recommendations on how to prevent a
\nrepetition of the major flood that wreaked havoc in Jakarta this
\nweekend. The President approved the recommendations.<\/p>\n
Most people believed that the ungoverned construction of
\nhotels, bungalows and restaurants in the Bogor, Puncak and
\nCianjur areas was partly, if not chiefly, to blame for the
\nfloods.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar said Puncak in the old days was designated as a
\nconservation area, functioning as a water catchment for Jakarta.
\nIn the last 30 years, Puncak has been transformed into a popular
\nresort area for Jakarta with hotels, bungalows and restaurants
\nsprouting up everywhere.<\/p>\n
The government has been alarmed at the rapid development of
\nPuncak and called for a stoppage as far back as 10 years ago, but
\nconstruction continued, with local government officials
\ncomplaining that \"powerful\" people were behind many of these
\nprojects.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar said no building permits would be issued in most
\nareas in Bogor, Puncak and Cianjur. The exception are villages in
\nKopo, Leuwimalang, Cisarua, Citeko, Sukamaju, Sukaresmi,
\nSukamahi, Mangunkerta, Sukamulyadi and part of Cikanyere and
\nSukaresmi.<\/p>\n
Structures that hold building permits and are not in violation
\nof the spatial planning would not be affected, but those that do
\nnot comply would be torn down when their land lease expires.<\/p>\n
Structures that do not own building permits but are not in
\nviolation of the spatial planning would be processed and issued
\npermits, but those that do not conform with the spatial planning
\nwould be demolished.<\/p>\n
The government would build check dams, reservoirs, and ponds
\nin the three areas. All plantations would be phased out by not
\nrenewing the leaseholds as they expire and the land reforested.<\/p>\n
The government would also encourage people in the area to
\nplant trees. The Ministry of Forestry would provide the seeds.<\/p>\n
In addition, the Ministry of Public Works will build a two
\nkilometer canal linking the Cisadane and Ciliwung rivers, both of
\nwhich have their origins in Puncak, to ease the burden on the
\nlatter. The Ciliwung which passes through Jakarta tends to
\noverflow quickly during the rainy season.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar said he was hopeful that the social impact would be
\nminimal, because the majority of people who will be affected by
\nthe measures, including forced demolitions, are wealthy Jakartans
\nwho own villas in Puncak.<\/p>\n
The government's measures are not all that \"repressive,\"
\naccording to Ginandjar.<\/p>\n
As Puncak is being phased out as a tourist resort, the West
\nJava administration has been asked to develop alternative getaway
\nplaces.<\/p>\n
\"What we don't want to happen is for these rich people to buy
\nproperties in Singapore, Switzerland, Australia or California.
\nThat would be a mistake,\" Ginandjar said.<\/p>\n
He said there are several locations not too far from Jakarta
\nwhich could be just as attractive as Puncak, citing Cilacap and
\nPelabuhan Ratu in the south as examples.<\/p>\n
\"The development of these alternative resorts are just as
\nimportant,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar underlined the need to encourage people in the three
\nareas to be more concerned about the land and water reserves in
\ntheir areas.<\/p>\n
He recalled that three decades ago, the three areas still had
\nmany situ (ponds). \"Nowadays, the only situ we could find are
\nSitumeang and Situmorang,\" he jested, referring to names of Batak
\nclans. (emb)<\/p>\n
Editorial -- Page 4<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-bans-new-projects-in-puncak-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }