Semanggi cloverleaf becomes greening symbol<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso officially dedicated Saturday
\nthe Semanggi cloverleaf in South Jakarta as a symbol for the
\ngreening of the city.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said the city's greening program would be continued
\ndespite current monetary woes, but with some adjustments.
\nSaturday's dedication was held only on a quarter of the
\ncloverleaf area.<\/p>\n
\"Even though the program started a few years ago, there are
\nstill not enough green plots in Jakarta to help prevent
\npollution. So I hope this event will encourage many more
\nentrepreneurs and building owners, especially those along Jl.
\nSudirman and Jl. Thamrin, to create green areas,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The ceremony was highlighted by the planting of 272 5-meter
\ntrees in the quarter part of Semanggi.<\/p>\n
On the same day, 14,000 other trees were planted
\nsimultaneously throughout the city's five mayoralties.<\/p>\n
The program will be conducted for the next five years.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said the program's goal was to set aside 40 percent
\nof land in Jakarta for green areas.<\/p>\n
The greening movement was declared in 1993 by President
\nSoeharto.<\/p>\n
By last year, Jakarta claimed to have planted 3.47 million
\ntrees, exceeding the three million target.<\/p>\n
Saturday's ceremony was crowded by high-ranking officials,
\nIndonesian music and movie celebrities and tycoon Sudwikatmono.<\/p>\n
Among the guests of honor were State Minister of Environment
\nSarwono Kusumaatmadja, Minister of Public Works Radinal Moochtar,
\nMinister of Forestry Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo and State
\nMinister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony, Sutiyoso also urged owners of high-rise
\nbuildings along the city's main streets to plant large trees in
\nfront of their buildings.<\/p>\n
\"I ask businesspeople to demolish fences in front of their
\nbuildings and to change them into parks and sidewalks to make the
\nareas greener and friendlier,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sarwono also hoped citizens would support the movement by
\nplanting not only big and productive trees, but also vegetables.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, for the sake of the green movement, the trees would
\nalso be useful for meeting family needs,\" he said.<\/p>\n
When asked about the importance of the ceremony for the
\ngreening movement, since the country was under a monetary crisis,
\nSutiyoso said it was normal to have a little ceremony to kick off
\na movement.<\/p>\n
\"I don't think we're overreacting. What we have here is a
\nsimple ceremony, held especially to pool people's interest,
\nespecially businesspeople, to join the city program.<\/p>\n
\"We're in the fasting month. No food or beverages are being
\nserved. So what's wrong with it? It's not that we're being
\nthrifty. The most important thing is for the program to run
\nwell,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said his ambition to make Jakarta green was serious,
\nsince his goal was to plant millions of trees in the city's five
\nmayoralties.<\/p>\n
\"Let's plant fruit trees. I'll never stop this project because
\nthis city is in need of better environmental conditions. It is
\npredicted Jakarta will have a population of nine million people
\nsoon. This is not an easy thing to cope with,\" he said. (edt\/ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/semanggi-cloverleaf-becomes-greening-symbol-1447893297",
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