2,500 houses to be demolished

JAKARTA (JP): Approximately 2,500 houses in South Jakarta will be demolished to make way for the construction of a 12-kilometer toll road between Pondok Pinang and Meruya.

The houses to be demolished are in Pondok Pinang, Bintaro, Pesanggrahan, Petukangan Utara, Petukangan Selatan, and Ulujami.

Spokesman of the South Jakarta Mayoralty, Muhammad Yanis, said that compensation for the properties will be discussed between officials of the mayoralty and representatives of local residents.

The mayoralty, according to him, has offered compensation of between Rp 165,000 (US$75) and Rp 275,000 per square meter of land. While compensation for the buildings range between Rp 65,000 to Rp 300,500 per square meter.

The authorities hope to finish the land appropriation this year. The project is scheduled to be completed in March 1997.

"Lately, the mayoralty has been clearing land in Pondok Pinang and Bintaro," Yanis said. (29)