Eviction looms in Kelapa Gading

JAKARTA: The city administration may force residents on Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan in Kelapa Gading district, North Jakarta to leave their land to pave way for the busway corridor II project.

North Jakarta Mayor Effendi Anas said that he would apply Presidential Regulation No. 36/2005 on land acquisition for the project, which allows the government to force residents to give up their land, to evict the residents.

He said that in two months' time, he should be able to acquire around one hectare of land for the busway project.

"We still are open to the possibility of negotiating the price of their land. But if it fails, we will force them to give up their land, otherwise the busway project would be stalled," he added.

Thousands of residents in Kelapa Gading have refused to give up their land for the busway project.

Busway corridor II stretches from Pulo Gadung bus terminal in East Jakarta to Harmony in Central Jakarta. The project, together with busway corridor III from Harmony to Kalideres in West Jakarta, are scheduled to be completed early next year. JP