All reclamation land allocated

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said yesterday that the entire 2,700 hectares of land designated for reclamation in North Jakarta had been parceled out among private and state-owned developers.

Surjadi said the reclamation project was part of his administration's "Back to the North" campaign to encourage development in the northern part of the capital.

He said that North Jakarta was once the main center of economic activity in Jakarta because of the presence of the Sunda Kelapa fishing port and Tanjung Priok Port.

"We will transform North Jakarta back into a major business and recreation center while preserving the various historical sites in the area," he said.

The administration has imposed restrictions on future development in South Jakarta, considered a vital water catchment area for the capital. Before the reclamation idea the city had directed all new development toward the east and west.

Surjadi said some of the reclamation projects had already moved beyond reclaiming land and into the physical construction stage.

Among the contractors licensed are PT Mandira Permai, PT Manggala Krida Yudha, PT ISMAC, PT Jaladri Karyika Eka Paksi and PT Kapuk Naga Indah.

Manggala Krida, which is owned by President Soeharto's youngest daughter Siti Hutami Endang Adiningsih, is developing the Ancol Baru reclamation project in cooperation with the state-owned port management company PT Pelindo II.

Manggala Krida reclaimed 500 hectares which it is developing into a business, commercial and residential area.

The Pantai Indah Kapuk waterfront project, carried out by Mandira Permai, is expected to be finished in 2002.

Another project in Kapuk Naga is reclaiming 674 hectares. The environmental impact assessment is still being completed. It is being developed by Kapuk Naga Indah, a subsidiary of the Salim business group.

Surjadi said the reclamation projects aimed at improving the city's appearance and boosting the prosperity of Jakartans.

He said the Jakarta Tower, a 558-meter-high project in Kemayoran district, on which work began this week, was also part of the administration's program to develop North Jakarta.

The tower would complement the reclamation projects, he said.

When completed, the Jakarta Tower will be the highest such structure in the world. (07)