Council lukewarm about incinerator project
Council lukewarm about incinerator project
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The City Council approved on Wednesday the city development plan
for 2005, with several pending issues including the construction
of incineration plants and the use of reserve funds.
The chairman of the Council team that formulated the plan,
Muhammad Gunawan, said his team, consisting of representatives of
all of the Council's factions, had not agreed to an
administration proposal to develop incineration plants.
"In principle, we agree to the need to come up with a
comprehensive solution to the garbage problem. But we do not
emphasize the use of incinerators," he told The Jakarta Post,
adding that other waste reduction technology could be developed
in the city.
Governor Sutiyoso had asked the city to allocate Rp 400
billion (US$44.44 million) to develop the incineration plants.
The plants were to have been part of the city's priority
programs.
Other priority programs include land acquisition for the East
Flood Canal, the expansion of the busway corridor, construction
of low-cost apartment, school renovation work and improving the
welfare of teachers.
Gunawan said the Council had also not agreed to the
administration's proposal to use Rp 250 billion of the Rp 880
billion in reserve funds.
"The Council has not made any decision on the reserve funds.
The Council leaders will discuss the issue. We do, however,
encourage the administration to find other financial resources,"
said Gunawan of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).
Ramilan, the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN)
faction, said during Wednesday's plenary session of the Council
that the administration should perform a feasibility study before
making a decision on whether to develop the incineration plants.
"The administration must learn from the failure of its earlier
incineration program in 21 subdistricts. Those incinerators did
not work," he said.
Reform Awakening faction spokesman Nur Alam Bachtiar said his
faction agreed to the expansion of the busway corridor, but added
that the administration must do something about the traffic
congestion resulting from the busway.
"As we know, traffic in many areas of the city worsened after
the operation of the busway began. Therefore, the administration
must immediately find some way to resolve this problem," he said.
Gunawan said the approved city development plan would become a
reference for the 2005 draft budget expected to be revealed next
month.
Top programs approved for 2005
1. Development of busway corridors II and III Rp 515 billion
2. Land acquisition for East Flood Canal Rp 450 billion
3. Maintenance of small lakes and the Ciliwung and Angke rivers
Rp 401.5 billion
4. Construction of low-cost apartments Rp 150 billion
5. Subdistrict Society Empowerment Program Rp 267 billion
6. Pilot projects for public services in 50 subdistricts Rp 50 billion
7. Pilot projects for public services in districts Rp 10 billion
8. Expansion of the Jakarta Islamic Center Rp 61.23 billion
9. Improvement of teachers' welfare Rp 109.90 billion
10. School renovations Rp 200 billion
11. Expansion of green areas Rp 50 billion