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)