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