Developer asked to stop gymnasium construction

Multa Fidrus, Tangerang

PT Modernland Real Property was in violation of a city bylaw by building a gymnasium in Tangerang without obtaining a building permit, a local official said recently.

This is the second violation committed by the developer. In 2002, it was ordered by the administration to stop construction of the Metropolis Town Square.

Tangerang Capital Investment and Permit Office (KPMP) head Dafyar Elyadi said his office had not yet issued a permit for the construction of the gymnasium as the application forms had only been submitted recently.

"We hadn't expected the developer to start the construction work, however it has almost been completed," Dafyar said.

He said the developer had violated bylaw No. 7/2001 on building permits, which carried a fine.

The construction of the gymnasium at the Modernland housing estate in Cikokol, Tangerang municipality, was about 75 percent complete.

Dafyar said he would ask the public order agency to send officers to the construction site to stop the work.

He called a Modernland employee, Herbudi, and ordered him to stop the construction and close down the site unless the developer obtained a permit.

Separately, Modernland development manager Iwan Suryawidjaya said the construction work on the gym had to be started before the administration issued the permit because the construction deadline was looming.