About 1,500 houses to be demolished

JAKARTA (JP): The West Jakarta administration will demolish around 1,500 illegal houses in seven subdistricts on Oct. 24 to pave the way for a river improvement project and green belt construction.

Karsidin, the administration chief of security department, said yesterday that most of the occupants of the government land along the 11-kilometer-long left bank of Cisadane river, will be asked to leave.

The seven subdistricts are Semanan, Duri Kosambi, Rawa Buaya, Kedaung, Kedoya Utara, Kapuk and Kalijodo.

He said that more than 3,000 people will be displaced. He added that the figure does not include the prostitutes of the notorious Kalijodo red light district whose brothels have been sealed by mayoralty authorities.

The brothels at Kalijodo were gutted by fire in May 1992. At that time, West Jakarta Mayor Suprawito told the prostitutes not to rebuild their brothels, but the flesh traders turned their deaf ears to him.

Karsidin said that the main aim of the project is not only to clear the area from the stigma of the Kalijodo red light district but also to accomplish the city's plan to build a green belt alongside the river, he said.

Karsidin added that the measure is also expected to improve the condition of the river.

Four of the city's administration agencies; city planning, the public works, the parks service and the security department, will be responsible for the projects.

He said that the administration will carry out the project step by step. The first phase will run from Sept. 16 to 18 to brief the local residents about the land status. Local public figures will be involved in the campaign.

"Between Sept. 19 and Oct. 10, we will warn the illegal land occupants to voluntarily demolish their own shelters and quit," he said.

The demolition itself will take place on Oct. 24.

According to Karsidin, the residents will not receive any compensation for the appropriation of the lands.

That is why the administration needs to make them understand that the land belong to the government, he said.

He said the administration will only offer them transportation when they leave the areas.

Karsidin said the administration will not provide any new place for the evicted people. He said they would be better off joining the government-sponsored transmigration projects in other islands. (03)