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