Glass shop to be demolished

JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Mayor Abdul Kahfi has ordered subordinates to pull down a glass shop located at the corner of Jl. Gunung Sahari and Jl. Angkasa Raya to make way for a road enlargement project.

"The owner has been given a deadline to demolish the building before May 28. The mayoralty team will tear the building down if the owner fails to demolish it," Antara quoted Kahfi as saying on Monday.

He said the building obstructs traffic from and to Jl. Gunung Sahari and Jl. Angkasa Raya. Therefore, demolition would be the only option. "The building has become the only obstacle to carrying out the road enlargement project," he added.

The mayoralty has provided the shop owner with Rp 246 million in compensation, but he has yet to accept the amount.

"We hope that the shop owner will take the money soon, before we leave the money at the local court," Kahfi said.

Records indicate that the building should have been torn down three years ago, but the owner had earlier filed a lawsuit against the mayor's demolition order. The Supreme Court has turned down the shop owner's appeal. (sur)