1,322 graves to be removed

JAKARTA (JP): City authorities will relocate 1,322 graves from the Karet Bivak public cemetery in Central Jakarta beginning next month to make way for the construction of public facilities.

One-third of the 9,745-square-meter area on which the graves are located will be used by the authorities for the development of a recreation park and the remainder will be used for the construction of offices and a parking area, according to the head of the City Funeral Agency, Safril Zainuddin.

Relatives of the dead people are being urged to register their names at the funeral agency between today and Sept. 1 in order to facilitate the process of moving the remains and tombstones to another public cemetery.

The authorities will carry out the removal work between Sept. 15 and Sept. 31. They will do so free of charge, except in cases where relatives do not want the graves moved to one of two South Jakarta public cemeteries: Srengseng Sawah cemetery, in Pasar Minggu, and Kampung Kandang, in Jagakarsa.

Relatives wishing to have graves moved to another cemetery may do so at their own expense. (bsr)