Sutiyoso declares an end to Bendi Park issue<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso announced yesterday the
\ndispute between the city and a developer over the removal of
\ntrees from Bendi park in South Jakarta had been resolved after
\nthe firm apologized and promised to replant the trees.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso also disclosed that the firm had submitted a letter
\nto him asking for permission.<\/p>\n
But the developer of the triple-tier transit project, PT Citra
\nModa Margakencana Persada, had pulled out the trees -- originally
\nplanted by the municipality -- before obtaining the governor's
\napproval.<\/p>\n
\"(In the letter) the developer just asked for my permission to
\nuse the plot for the groundbreaking ceremony but, before I
\nreplied to the letter, the firm had pulled out an excessive
\nnumber of trees,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"But there have been no more problems now as they have
\napologized.\"<\/p>\n
The groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of the Rp 6.2
\ntrillion triple-tier transit project, scheduled to be held at
\nBendi Park yesterday, was abruptly canceled on the eve of the
\nceremony.<\/p>\n
The developer's management announced that the ceremony was
\nhalted due to the General Session of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly next week.<\/p>\n
The project is to consist of 23.65 kilometers of toll roads
\nand 22 km of light-rail tracks connecting Kebayoran Lama in the
\nsouth to Kota in the north.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso's soft approach to the developer's unauthorized act
\nreceived strong criticism from environmental activists.<\/p>\n
\"The problem cannot be solved with just an apology,\" head of
\nthe public education division of the Indonesian Forum for
\nEnvironment (Walhi), Winoto, said.<\/p>\n
\"What the company did contravened the city plan, and if such a
\nthing is ignored it will serve to weaken the existing laws.\"<\/p>\n
He said the incident challenged the city administration to
\ncrack down on those who fail to follow regulations.<\/p>\n
\"It's high time the administration shows its authority.\"<\/p>\n
Head of the field and environment division of the Jakarta
\nLegal Aid Institute, Dewi Novirianti, said the developer had
\nclearly broken the law and therefore it should be brought to
\ncourt, through a class-action suit if people felt victimized.<\/p>\n
\"The tree planting was intended to support the lungs of the
\ncity, which are vital for the public,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Dewi said the class action could proceed in the same way as
\nthe recent cases against state-owned electrical company, PLN,
\nover the prolonged blackout in Java and Bali, or state-owned PT
\nJamsostek over the misuse of the social security fund.<\/p>\n
But, a representative of PT Citra Moda Margakencana, Ngurah
\nAstaman, who is in charge of the groundbreaking ceremony, said
\nthe company had received an official letter regarding the land-
\nuse permit and tree removal from the City Park Agency.<\/p>\n
\"We received it three days ago. As far as I'm concerned, the
\ntree matter is just due to a lack of coordination. We intend to
\nsupport the city's greening program, that's for sure,\" he told
\nThe Jakarta Post yesterday.<\/p>\n
The letter also stated the number of trees that have to be
\nremoved and later kept at the agency's warehouse.<\/p>\n
\"But I'm glad the matter is solved. Once the replanting is
\nfinished, I guarantee that the area will be greener than before.\"
\n(ind\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sutiyoso-declares-an-end-to-bendi-park-issue-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}