Eviction looms in Kelapa Gading

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