Ex redlight area to be sports hall

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