Builders blamed for ignoring city utility maps

Builders blamed for ignoring city utility maps

JAKARTA (JP): Private developers tend to execute projects without using maps of the City Utility System Coordination Board, officials say.

This causes damage of many underground utility systems.

The deputy governor for economic and development affairs, Tb. M. Rais, said yesterday the municipality set up the board to coordinate many underground projects in the city.

"But the board's information is hardly used by developers," said Rais, who chairs the board.

"It is a rule that maps of underground projects should be submitted to the board," he said.

The city underground utilities system has come under the media spotlight as plans develop for the city's first subway system.

Critics have said the project will ruin various underground utilities such as telephone cables, gas pipes and electricity cables.

Rais said developers who need to install or repair utilities should use the information from the city's maps to identify their exact project sites.

So far the information is largely ignored and many developers work recklessly, leading to the damage of other utility systems near their projects.

All projects should be supervised by the city public works agency, said the deputy chairman of the board, Prawoto Danoemihardjo.

Inaccurate

However Prawoto, a former head of the public works agency, admitted that a number of the maps are inaccurate.

This also contributes to the damage of other utility systems, he said.

Prawoto said developers have also refused an offer by the administration to build an integrated underground utilities system in Jakarta.

"They refused the plan because it means they'd have to invest first and they doubt their investment would be used by the targeted parties," such as the telecommunications company, Prawoto said.

A system built by the city, Prawoto said, would have clearly identified sites for excavation work.

Rais said firm action has been taken against reckless developers, such as disqualifying them for city project bids for six months to one year.

"We have also contacted related offices such as the state- owned electricity company and telecommunication company to act against reckless developers," he said. (yns)