Govt bans new projects in Puncak

Govt bans new projects in Puncak

JAKARTA (JP): The government yesterday decided to freeze all new construction in the Puncak area, a popular weekend getaway for Jakartans, and restore the cool hilly resort into its former function as a water catchment for the capital.

If the announcement was greeted with skepticism, because similar statements have been made in the past but were never enforced, State Minister for National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita said this time the government means it.

"Is there anyone stronger than the government ... or the President, other than the people?" Ginandjar retorted when reporters questioned whether the government had the will and power to confront "strong" people believed to own some of the hotels and the villagers in the Puncak area.

The announcement was made after Ginandjar, along with Minister of Public Works Radinal Moochtar, Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja and West Java Governor R. Nuriana reported to President Soeharto at his Jl. Cendana residence.

Ginandjar said the national spatial planning team which he headed came up with a set of recommendations on how to prevent a repetition of the major flood that wreaked havoc in Jakarta this weekend. The President approved the recommendations.

Most people believed that the ungoverned construction of hotels, bungalows and restaurants in the Bogor, Puncak and Cianjur areas was partly, if not chiefly, to blame for the floods.

Ginandjar said Puncak in the old days was designated as a conservation area, functioning as a water catchment for Jakarta. In the last 30 years, Puncak has been transformed into a popular resort area for Jakarta with hotels, bungalows and restaurants sprouting up everywhere.

The government has been alarmed at the rapid development of Puncak and called for a stoppage as far back as 10 years ago, but construction continued, with local government officials complaining that "powerful" people were behind many of these projects.

Ginandjar said no building permits would be issued in most areas in Bogor, Puncak and Cianjur. The exception are villages in Kopo, Leuwimalang, Cisarua, Citeko, Sukamaju, Sukaresmi, Sukamahi, Mangunkerta, Sukamulyadi and part of Cikanyere and Sukaresmi.

Structures that hold building permits and are not in violation of the spatial planning would not be affected, but those that do not comply would be torn down when their land lease expires.

Structures that do not own building permits but are not in violation of the spatial planning would be processed and issued permits, but those that do not conform with the spatial planning would be demolished.

The government would build check dams, reservoirs, and ponds in the three areas. All plantations would be phased out by not renewing the leaseholds as they expire and the land reforested.

The government would also encourage people in the area to plant trees. The Ministry of Forestry would provide the seeds.

In addition, the Ministry of Public Works will build a two kilometer canal linking the Cisadane and Ciliwung rivers, both of which have their origins in Puncak, to ease the burden on the latter. The Ciliwung which passes through Jakarta tends to overflow quickly during the rainy season.

Ginandjar said he was hopeful that the social impact would be minimal, because the majority of people who will be affected by the measures, including forced demolitions, are wealthy Jakartans who own villas in Puncak.

The government's measures are not all that "repressive," according to Ginandjar.

As Puncak is being phased out as a tourist resort, the West Java administration has been asked to develop alternative getaway places.

"What we don't want to happen is for these rich people to buy properties in Singapore, Switzerland, Australia or California. That would be a mistake," Ginandjar said.

He said there are several locations not too far from Jakarta which could be just as attractive as Puncak, citing Cilacap and Pelabuhan Ratu in the south as examples.

"The development of these alternative resorts are just as important," he added.

Ginandjar underlined the need to encourage people in the three areas to be more concerned about the land and water reserves in their areas.

He recalled that three decades ago, the three areas still had many situ (ponds). "Nowadays, the only situ we could find are Situmeang and Situmorang," he jested, referring to names of Batak clans. (emb)

Editorial -- Page 4