Governor saves the last dance for Monas laser fountain
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
This year, Jakartans were treated to Rp 15 billion worth of laser lights in the National Monument (Monas) Park to commemorate the city's 477th anniversary. Next year, a "dancing water fountain" will be installed in the park to mark the city's anniversary celebration.
"The fountain is designed to provide residents with a place to interact, enjoy recreation and relax amid the hustle and bustle of life in the capital," Governor Sutiyoso said at City Hall on Friday.
"The fountain will be a new attraction for tourists visiting Jakarta."
Great efforts have been made by Governor Sutiyoso to improve the park, which ironically has been fenced off to the public. Among his innovations was the introduction of a herd of deer. At least 30 of the ruminants now roam the park.
Sutiyoso said the construction of the fountain would be fully financed by a private sector company as part of a barter scheme, with the firm gaining the right to billboard advertising spots.
"The fountain will not cost the city anything. In addition, we will also obtain tax revenues from the billboard spots," he said after a meeting with executives of the PT Media Indra Buana (MIB) advertising agency.
Previously, PT MIB gained the right to use a number of billboard spots following the beautification of the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in 2002. That project cost Rp 14 billion.
The City Parks Agency, which will be responsible for the new fountain's construction, has yet to calculate how much it will cost.
The fountain will feature 14 "dances" accompanied by music, mostly classical compositions.
Assistant to City Secretary for Development Affairs, Hari Sanjoyo, said Sutiyoso had ordered that the fountain's construction be completed before the city anniversary on June 22.
City Council development commission chairman Sayogo Hendrosubroto said the barter deal had to be transparent and open so that other private sector parties could also take part.
He said the deal could give rise to public controversy as many advertising agencies were interested in obtaining the right to use the billboard spots as most of them were located in strategic places.
Besides the fountain, the parks agency will be undertaking another beautification project on Jl. Diponegoro in the plush Menteng area of Central Jakarta. The agency plans to erect a giant equestrian statue of national hero Prince Diponegoro, which will be placed in the center of a fountain in front of Suropati Park. The statue is a gift from property tycoon Ciputra.
Over the past two years, the administration has been busy trying to beautify the city. Among the projects undertaken are the Rp 4 billion renovation of the Arjuna Wijaya statue in front of the Indosat building and the Rp 3.5 billion construction of the General Soedirman statue on Jl. Sudirman. None of the deals were made via tender or in transparent manner.