All zoo shops to be demolished

All zoo shops to be demolished

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration is determined to demolish all handicraft shops and food stalls in Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta because their existence affects the lives of animals, and because the structures are not in line with city planning.

Assistant for City Secretary Maskup Ustianto said yesterday that, according to city planning, Ragunan zoo is classified as a green zone and is earmarked to also become an animal research center, not a trade site.

The city administration issued a permit for the construction of handicraft shops within the zoo in 1985 with the aim of providing souvenirs to visitors. In its development, however, the developer deviated from the original permit. Besides building handicraft shops, it also built food and beverage stalls as well as warehouses for their use.

The management of the zoo complained because the developer's director and his family are living in the shop complex in the zoo.

Due to the violation, Governor Surjadi issued two warning letters in 1993, asking the developer to demolish the 104 shops.

Instead of complying to the request, however, PT Arriya Karsa, the developer, filed a lawsuit against the city administration. The court decided that the city administration was at fault.

The court ordered the city administration to pay Rp 485.73 million (US$219,877) to the developer and allow the developer to manage all shops inside the zoo for another 15 years.

Currently the city administration is appealing to the Jakarta High Court.

The developer has now proposed to South Jakarta Mayor Pardjoko that the matter be settled out of court, in which case all charges will be dropped if the city administration permits the developer to manage all of the shops.

Pardjoko sent a letter of recommendation to the deputy governor for people's welfare on Feb. 20 to consider the offer. Pardjoko said in the letter that his office is considering the offer but will leave all decisions to the city administration.

Maskup expressed confidence that Governor Surjadi Soedirdja will turn down the developer's offer to settle the matter outside of court. "I am sure that the governor will turn down the offer and insist on settling this matter in court."

Maskup explained that the governor is known as being consistent.

"The city administration will not stop its fight to settle the matter through the legal process. Moreover, we will file an appeal to the Supreme Court if we have to," he said, adding that the city administration will later obey any decision taken by the Supreme Court. (yns)