Villas demolition plans delayed<\/p>\n
BOGOR (JP): The local authorities here have decided to delay
\ntheir plans to demolish 32 villas located at the Gunung Mas tea
\nplantation of the state-owned plantation firm PTPN VIII in the
\npopular mountain resort of Puncak.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the Bogor regency administration, Helmi Gustian,
\nsaid on Thursday that the decision would be postponed until the
\nNational Land Agency (BPN) issued its judgment over the alleged
\nmisuse of the land.<\/p>\n
If the BPN later decided to extend the rights on land use of
\nthe buildings -- which would allow owners to continue offering
\ntheir villas to vacationers -- the local administration would
\nbury the demolition plan, Helmi said.<\/p>\n
\"We have to be careful in tearing down the villas, otherwise
\nthe villa owners will sue us,\" he added.<\/p>\n
According to Helmi, the area is actually owned by PTPN VIII,
\nwhich in 1996 proposed to the BPN that it extend its land use
\nrights.<\/p>\n
\"But the company never got a response regarding the proposal,
\nleaving the status of the land plots at the plantation unclear,\"
\nhe explained.<\/p>\n
Because of the uncertain status, a number of residents
\nsubsequently claimed the land and then offered the plots to
\nwealthy visitors who intended to build villas using fake building
\npermits, Helmi said.<\/p>\n
\"At least two of the 32 villas already claimed were said to
\nhave proper building permits. When we checked the authenticity of
\nthe permits, however, both were bogus and were not listed with
\nthe City Spatial Agency,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Helmi reminded the residents and owners of the villas that the
\nland at the tea plantation belonged to the state and therefore
\nthe public had no right to own or build on the land without legal
\nauthorization.<\/p>\n
Thousands of people, particularly Jakartans, spend their
\nweekends and holidays at the Puncak area by renting hotels and
\nvillas in the area. (21\/09)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/villas-demolition-plans-delayed-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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