Developers need to exchange data

Developers need to exchange data

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Environment Sarwono
Kusumaatmadja called yesterday for better exchanges of
information between real estate developers in order to prevent
conflicts of interest.

"There's nothing wrong with large-scale development, but if
megaprojects are centered in one area, such as Greater Jakarta,
there are bound to be conflicts over spatial arrangements, water
sources and pollution control," he said.

Sarwono was speaking on the topic of the business ethics of
developers in environmental management at the national congress
of the Indonesian Real Estate Developers Association.

The minister told the third day of the congress that early
access to information on water supplies could prevent conflicts
of interest from occurring.

"Information on water sources is the top priority for
developers," he said, "because how can real estate industries
survive if there's a shortage of water?"

Sarwono even suggested that the developers themselves should
set up a center for information services, saying that such
information could be pooled from various government bodies. "It
could even be a good business," he added.

However, outgoing association chairman Enggartiasto Lukita
said it is the government that should set up the proposed center,
as it has the best access to the information.

"But if the government has other priorities, developers could
help by collecting the funds for the information services," he
said.

Sarwono said developers could have the required environmental
impact analysis conducted in a much simpler manner if an
information center for developers existed.

The minister told the developers to be responsible in their
use of the information they have. For instance, if the
information they have implies that they choose another site for
their project, they should do so, he said.

Enggartiasto promised that the leadership of the association
would develop further the Sarwono's idea of an information
center.

The congress will hold its chairmanship elections today.

Sarwono said that developers face great risks if they treat
government land use permits as a form of guarantee that the land
in question is free of environmental problems.

A developer with "a pro-active ethical attitude" would not be
content with pocketing a permit, he said. Sarwono conceded that
the officials issuing permits for land use may not understand
environmental matters.

Therefore, the responsibility for the preservation of the
environment rests with developers, he said. "And in that they
should be guided by ethics...which depend on proper information,"
he said.

Sarwono said that since developers are increasingly becoming
part of the nation's "strategic elite", they are expected to show
a higher degree of professionalism. He said there was an urgent
need for developers to show "ethical commitment". (anr)