Population is puzzles Jakarta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor of Jakarta Surjadi Soedirdja believes
\npopulation growth is one of Jakarta's most serious problems and
\nthat the city must find a way to curb migration of rural people.<\/p>\n
\"There are in fact various problems prevailing here, which are
\nall equally urgent. But, we are giving high priority to the
\npopulation affairs since many other problems are closely knit
\nwith it,\" the governor told a press conference at the City Hall
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Surjadi said other problems which prevail in the capital
\ninclude the growth of informal sectors, the incompetence of city
\nofficials and the inadequate transportation system.<\/p>\n
\"Most of the problems to some extent originate from the rapid
\ngrowth of the population,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the administration is trying to solve the problem
\nthrough two strategies. Slums are being transformed into more
\ndecent places to live and impeding migration.<\/p>\n
\"To improve the condition in the city there is no alternative
\nthan to get rid of slums and build low-cost apartments so that
\nformer slum dwellers can live a more decent life and at the same
\ntime the city will look more pleasant,\" said the governor.<\/p>\n
Stubborn<\/p>\n
The Jakarta administration has occasionally failed to carry
\nout the plan because many slum dwellers refuse to move to
\napartments, mostly because they can't afford to pay the rent, as
\nwas recently witnessed in West Tebet subdistrict, South Jakarta,
\nSurjadi said.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, he said, the administration has
\nsuccessfully built at least 12 blocks of apartments and is
\npresently constructing another nine in six former slums.<\/p>\n
\"All the low-cost apartment blocks will have a total of more
\nthan 5,000 units.\"<\/p>\n
He said during his routine weekly tour of the city he has
\nalways instructed all subdistrict chiefs to control their areas
\nand deter migrants from erecting new slums as quickly as
\npossible.<\/p>\n
\"I always tell the lurah 'Control your area!'. Since, if the
\nnumber of squatters has posed as a problem they will be very
\ndifficult to make them leave the area.<\/p>\n
In case the squatters have managed to settle down they will
\nonly quit the area after setting a lot of conditions which
\ninclude compensation from the administration.<\/p>\n
\"They do not deserve it since they have illegally occupied
\nstate land,\" said Surjadi.<\/p>\n
Early tackling of the problem, he said, will hopefully deter
\naspiring migrants.<\/p>\n
The governor also said there are people who clearly make a
\nliving by exploiting the poor and politicians who have made the
\nbest use of the existing social gaps for their own interests.<\/p>\n
In conjunction with the efforts to curb the migration of rural
\npeople, Surjadi said, Jakarta will cooperate with other provinces
\nin Java and Bali on a campaign to curb migration.<\/p>\n
The governor said Jakarta has in fact gained successes in its
\nefforts to stop population growth.<\/p>\n
According to data collected by the City Hall, the population
\ngrowth declined to 1.96 percent in 1992, compared to 2.41 percent
\nannually in the last decade and 4.6 percent between 1970 and
\n1980. (jsk)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/population-is-puzzles-jakarta-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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