Ex redlight area to be sports hall

JAKARTA: The Jakarta administration appears set to soon convert the former Boker red-light district in Ciracas, East Jakarta, into a sports center.

East Jakarta Mayor Koesnan A. Halim presented the plan on Tuesday to Governor Sutiyoso.

Koesnan said that the municipality had paid Rp 28 billion to acquire part of site last year.

"This year we will need another Rp 32 billion to pay compensation for the land," he was quoted as saying by the city's official online news portal, Beritajakarta.com, after the meeting.

The project, which will commence in 2007, will be financed by the Jakarta administration.

The administration plans to acquire a total of 4.5 hectares for the sports center, with 1.5 hectares of the site belonging to the Jakarta fire department.

"Some of the owners of the other 1.5 hectares have refused to sell their land at the price we are offering, which is in line with market value. So, we will use Presidential Regulation No. 36/2005 on land acquisition," Koesnan said.

This regulation allows the administration to compulsorily acquire land for the construction of public facilities. -- JP