All cemeteries to have multiple functions
All cemeteries to have multiple functions
JAKARTA (JP): In the near future cemeteries in the capital
will serve not only as burial sites, but will also function as
scenic areas, greeneries as well as water catchment areas.
"Our long term target is to use all city cemeteries not only
as burial sites but also as city green areas and water catchments
so that they can be useful for those still alive," Sjafril
Zainuddin, the chief of the city cemetery office, said yesterday.
He said in order to reach the goal the city administration
issued the City Regulation No. 2 in 1992 on cemetery planning.
According to Sjafril, the regulation sets the standard design
of graves in Jakarta which forbids the use of bricks or concrete
in construction.
"All graves will be of soil covered with grass and marked by a
gravestone," he said, adding that there is no distinction made
for graves of people of different creeds.
Sjafril said the standardization of grave plots has enabled
the city to govern the number of graves in each hectare in a
cemetery which should not be more or less than 1,800 graves per
hectare.
He said the standardization will help the office create the
ideal cemetery which could be a beautiful garden.
Sjafril said that the office is now planning to make three
cemeteries pilot projects. The cemeteries are Karet Bivak in
Central Jakarta, Tanah Kusir and Pondok Ranggon, both in South
Jakarta.
Sjafril said the office is planning to transform Karet Bivak
cemetery on Jl. K.H. Mas Mansyur, Central Jakarta into a shady
garden.
He said that gradually the concrete tombs in Karet Bivak
cemetery will be removed and most of the people whose families
were buried there have agreed to the plan.
"The estimated total cost of the cemetery refurbishment in
Karet Bivak is Rp 2.6 billion (US$1.18 million) and the project
is expected to start next year," he said.
Responding to a question about the existence of monumental
tombs which were built years ago, Sjafril said his office is
still appealing to families to make them understand the office
wants to redesign the tombs in line with the Regulation No.
2/1992.
Sjafril said all of the regulations regarding graveyards have
been applied in new city burial sites such as Pondok Ranggon
cemetery, South Jakarta, Kampung Kambing and Pondok Kelapa in
East Jakarta.
Save
He said the regulation has also promoted the scheme of using
the same grave to bury another member of the family in order to
save land use in Jakarta.
"Assuming that there are 80 people in Jakarta needing
conventional burials every day, one grave for one body, by the
year 2,000 there will be no more space for burial in this city,"
he said.
He said this year the city can provide around 244,000 burial
plots, but in about six years Jakartans will face a scarcity of
available graves.
Sjafril said his office has launched aggressive campaigns for
the concept through radio shows and leaflets which are available
in subdistrict administration offices.
He said there are around 614 cemeteries in Jakarta but only
101, totaling 556 hectares, are in line with the city planning.
The remaining 513 which total 92.07 hectares consist of small
traditional graveyards, the remains of which will be exhumed and
moved to the other 101 graveyards.
Among the 513 graveyards, 276 are located in South Jakarta,
107 in West Jakarta, 96 in East Jakarta, 33 in North Jakarta and
one in Central Jakarta. (mas)