Consortium denies report on Jonggol relocation plan

Consortium denies report on Jonggol relocation plan

JAKARTA (JP): A consortium has denied media reports they plan
to move Jakarta's central administration to the subdistrict of
Jonggol, Bogor, West Java.

Bambang Trihatmodjo, head of PT Bukit Jonggol Asri, the
consortium for the Jonggol project, said his company did not plan
to relocate Jakarta's central administration. Bambang and
Kaestindo Group established the consortium.

Haryadi Kumala, president of Kaestindo Group, said Jonggol
would not be converted into the center of administration. "We
want to make Jonggol only a satellite town," he said.

The consortium reportedly plans to develop a new township,
where Jakarta's central administration will be included.

"It's not true we want to relocate the central administration
to Jonggol. Our development proposal is meant to raise the status
of Jonggol from a district, to a kind of township," Haryadi was
quoted by Antara as saying.

"Relocating the center of administration is not an easy job,
and is costly. How can our consortium afford that?" he said.

As a township, Jonggol would have its own government offices,
and people applying for land documents would not necessarily have
to go to the Land Agency office in Bogor, Haryadi cited.

Jonggol is about 50 kilometers southeast of Jakarta.

Reports said the Jonggol project would cover a total of 30,000
hectares, almost half of Jakarta.

Fifty hectares of the area is allotted for presidential and
ministry offices, the latest Kontan tabloid said.

A new sports complex will also be built, and another 150
hectares are designated for recreational areas, forests and
agricultural sites, the tabloid said.

Jakarta governor Surjadi Soedirdja said he hadn't been
contacted by any parties concerned with the Jonggol project. He
said he only knew of the plan from newspapers.

He suggested the developer take environmental issues into
consideration, so Jakarta's environment would not deteriorate
from the project.

In a related development, West Java Governor Nuriana said from
Bandung the Jonggol project was still waiting for a permit from
President Soeharto.

Nuriana was quoted by Republika as saying that everything
depended on the president. "We will issue the location permit
after the president approves the plan," he said.

National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) officials have
denied reports they have received the consortium's proposal on
Jonggol.

Herman Haeruman, the board's regional division deputy, said
the only project proposal received by the board is for a housing
complex, and a sports and recreation center.

Nuriana said the Jonggol project would be discussed with
several ministries before being submitted to the president. (sur)