Fire victims at Senen market open new kiosks

Fire victims at Senen market open new kiosks

JAKARTA (JP): Senen market traders whose kiosks were destroyed
in a fire last November have begun occupying temporary kiosks
built for them by developer PT Jaya Real Property.

Traders yesterday occupied the four-square-meter kiosks built
in the marketplace's parking lot. Several were open to customers
while other traders were finishing off their shops, adding
ceramic tiling to the cement floors.

The new kiosks have rolling doors, gutters and gates at the
end of each row of kiosks. Other traders at the temporary sites
sold clothing and watches, among other items.

Before the fire on Nov. 23 the traders had occupied block IV
and V, managed by Jaya Real Property.

Iwan, a shoe trader, said traders had agreed to pay Rp 75,000
a month while the new market was being built. Construction is
expected to take at least 18 months.

The temporary kiosks in the parking lot were part of 786
provided for fire victims. The fire destroyed 1,389 kiosks and
traders said the temporary kiosks would not be enough for all of
them.

Lihardin Sipayung, spokesman of PD Pasar Jaya, the city-owned
market firm, said yesterday he had yet to check whether the
remaining 603 kiosks were finally being provided by the city.

Yesterday kiosk owners still waiting for their kiosks to be
ready were operating on the sidewalk.

In the meantime several sidewalk vendors have already been
accommodated on the parking lot for the month, in line with the
city's policy to provide legitimate space for vendors during
Ramadhan.

Lihardin said the space for vendors at Senen was provided by
PT Jaya, as the city firm is yet to decide which markets will
accommodate vendors and at what price.

Yanti, a food vendor, said she paid Rp 500,000 for a two-meter
space, excluding daily sanitation and security fees of Rp 2,000,
and rent for the tables.

"But it's all official, and the hoodlums don't dare ask money
from us," Yanti said.

She said she could earn around Rp 50,000 a day during the
fasting month.

Lihardin said 90 percent of the city's markets will provide
space for vendors, except markets with no space such as
Jatinegara in East Jakarta.

"The fees will depend on evaluations of parking fees lost, and
the costs needed for restoring the spaces to parking lots after
Ramadhan," Lihardin said. He declined to mention an average
figure.

Spaces for vendors will officially open two weeks before Idul
Fitri, Jakarta's peak shopping time, he said. (anr)