Governor to start slum modernization
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso is scheduled to launch a slum modernization program with a visit to the Ciliwung riverbanks in East Jakarta on Friday, an official said.
"The areas to be visited include Cawang, Bidara Cina, Kampung Melayu and Kampung Manggis which are prone to flooding in the rainy season," East Jakarta Mayor Sudarsono said at City Hall on Monday.
"The governor will also visit other mayoralties and check out the slum areas, especially those located along the riverbanks."
The program is a continuation of the slum eradication program undertaken during former Jakarta governor Surjadi Soedirdja's term.
Sudarsono said the city planned to build more low-cost apartments to accommodate those living along the riverbanks.
The modernization program is being conducted in accordance with the city's clean river program -- which began in 1995 -- and its four stages are expected to be completed in 2000.
"In the first stage, a 35,703-square-meter area along Ciliwung riverbank on Jl. Casablanca and the Sensus IV area will be cleared. The project is expected to be completed this year.
"The residents who live along the area will be moved into low- cost apartments located in East Jakarta, such as those in Bidaracina and Klender," Sudarsono said.
According to data from the city's housing agency, the other three stages are the clearance of a 223,470-square-meter plot in Sensus IV -- bordered by Jl. MT Haryono, Jl. Manggarai and Jl. Slamet Riyadi -- to be completed next year; a 133,200-square- meter plot along Jl. Slamet Riyadi in Bukit Duri Utara to be completed in 1999; and a 144,850-square-meter plot on Jl. Casablanca in Bukit Duri Utara to be completed in 2000.
Almost Rp 160 billion (US$44 million) has been earmarked by the municipality for the clearing of land along Ciliwung River.
The head of the city's housing development supervision subdivision agency, Nusmardi, told The Jakarta Post the city is concentrating on building 21,000 apartment units, including 2,100 luxury units, per year.
"However we have built only 16,455 low-cost apartment units in the five Jakarta mayoralties over the last 10 years," he said.
"The municipality currently gives priority to the development of cheap apartment units as more than 50 percent of Jakartans are low-income workers. We ought to give them better homes."
Jakarta is estimated to have some 275 slum areas. All of them are to be included in the city administration's slum modernization program.
City councilors praised the municipality's plan to upgrade slum areas but said the residents should be given more money in compensation for the demolition of their houses.
"Currently, people living on riverbanks get only Rp 100,000 to Rp 200,000 per family. What can they do with such a little amount of money?" Saud Rachman, a member of Commission D for development affairs, said.
"Don't evict them without giving them any capital to go on with their lives." (07)