Agency to build parks in slums

JAKARTA: The City Park Agency is planning to create parks in slums across the city to provide open space for slum residents, agency head Mauritz Napitupulu said on Thursday.

The agency plans to build 20 parks measuring between 200 square meters and 500 square meters, in slums in the five city mayoralties.

"We want slum residents to also be able to enjoy facilities such as parks," Mauritz said.

The agency has allocated Rp 3.95 billion to the project from the 2002 budget, he added.

Currently, public order officials are evicting slum residents along river banks and demolishing their homes in an effort to prevent flooding during the wet season.--JP