Council seeks talks on Tebet Barat market

Council seeks talks on Tebet Barat market

JAKARTA (JP): The City Council's Commission B for economic affairs yesterday urged the city market office to discuss with its traders its plan to rent out part of Tebet Barat market.

Secretary of the commission, Zarkasyi Marzuki, said yesterday that 13 traders still oppose the plan.

"The deal to rent the top floor of the market to Ramayana department store was reached, but it is important to re-discuss the plan with the 13 traders.

"The governor approved the plan with two conditions: the deal supports traders' business and that it will not cause unrest among the traders," Zarkasyi warned.

Zarkasyi said the management should explain that the plan is aimed at inviting more shoppers to the market because presently very few people visit the market.

He said that the plan to rent out the top floor of the building is also aimed at repaying the traders' money, deposited with the traders cooperative and amounting to Rp 1.7 billion (US$790,697), used to build the market six years ago.

The 13 traders lodged a complaint with the commission in December last year over the market's plan to lease a 3,000 sq.m. space to the department store.(yns)