City to have illumination agency

City to have illumination agency

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Legislative Council passed a bill
Friday on the setting up of the city's illumination agency to
accelerate the installation of street lamps in the five
mayoralties.

"The formation of the illumination agency is also expected to
reduce the dirty condition in slum areas," said Jakarta Governor
Surjadi Soedirdja, in his speech at the council's plenary
session.

The speech was read by City Secretary Harun Al Rasyid.

Surjadi said the city is still facing problems with the
illumination facilities on the streets, because it should consult
with the city's planning board for approval.

"The city's illumination project should adjust to the
characteristic of the city's development," Surjadi said, adding
that 1.5 million people here live in 2,885 hectares of slum
areas.

Before the formation of the illumination agency, the city's
street illumination project was handled by an office under the
administration. With the formation of the agency, each mayoralty
can handle its own illumination program.

Harun said the administration had set a target of installing
273,448 street lamps on the city's streets.

"Currently, the city has installed 81,214 street lamps only,"
Harun said, adding that the target is expected to be achieved by
the year 2000.

Councilor Ratih Ratna Purnama lamented the slow repair of
street lamps, saying the new office should regularly patrol the
streets and immediately repair any lamps which are out of order.

"The collection of the illumination tax from people who do not
use electricity from the state-owned electricity company PT PLN
is expected to accelerate the development of illumination
facilities," said Ratih, a member of the Indonesian Democratic
Party faction.

Until now, development of the city's illumination facilities
is still depending on the administration.

Data at the illumination office shows that every year, 60
percent of the lamps are required by the administration for
residential areas, while the remaining 40 percent are for street
lamps. (ste)