Death expected to become cheaper

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Not only is the city administration making graveyards more environmentally friendly by doing way with upright headstones in some cemeteries, it also intends to make burial cheaper.

Governor Sutiyoso said on Friday that he had proposed that rent on graves be scrapped next year because city officials often embezzled the money collected. The city earned Rp 5 billion (US$558,233) from the rent last year.

"I want the rent scrapped because the income is not that significant but is often criticized," Sutiyoso said after a meeting with officials from several city agencies.

He said he had asked relevant officials in the city administration to study the possibility of doing away with the rent.

He said the team, consisting of officials from the city revenue agency and the city cemetery agency, would be under the coordination of City Secretary Ritola Tasmaya.

Article 116 of City Bylaw No.3/1999 on regional fees says that graveyard rent should range from Rp 0 to Rp 100,000.

The bylaw also states that the lease on a grave is only for three years, after which it can be extended. The rent should be half the regular rate for the second lease.

But in reality, people pay much more than the official rent, such as in Bivak Cemetery, Central Jakarta, and in Tanah Kusir Cemetery, South Jakarta.

A resident claimed he was for Rp 800,000 for a plot in Tanah Kusir Cemetery rather than the official Rp 50,000.

Besides scrapping rent on graves, Sutiyoso also plans to abolish garbage collection fees for households.

Article 110 of Bylaw No.3/1999 puts household garbage collection fees at Rp 1,500 to Rp 10,000 per month.

Last year, garbage fees collected totaled Rp 6 billion.

The scrapping of graveyard rent and garbage collection fees will not significantly affect the 2003 city budget, which will amount to Rp 11.63 trillion.