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)