Hundreds of buildings occupy green zones

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Part of the green zones in Jakarta's five municipalities are occupied by over 350 buildings owned by private enterprises, state-owned companies, the city police, street vendors and various youth organizations.

Those buildings include fuel stations, private offices, state- owned companies, youth organization posts, police posts, power relay stations, shops and kiosks.

They are located on city parks, median strips and greenbelts, which should function as the city's lungs and catchment areas.

Data from the Jakarta Park Agency shows that there are 32 fuel stations all over the capital, occupying some five hectares of the city parks or greenbelts.

"Previously there were 36 fuel stations on a total of 5.32 hectares of land; we have successfully restored the four locations to their original function. The 32 others are still there," said an official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The source said that the fuel stations occupied the areas legally as the owners of the stations had received permits from the city administration.

"The Jakarta Park Agency knows nothing about the permits," he said.

Some of the gasoline stations, including the one on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, near Semanggi bridge in Central Jakarta, are owned by the husband of President Megawati, Taufik Kiemas. Some others reportedly belong to the Humpuss Group, the money machine of former president Soeharto's son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra.

City administration spokesman Muhayat claimed that many permits to build the gasoline stations were given during the administration of former governor Ali Sadikin in the middle of the 1970s.

He said that the permit extensions were given by a team whose members come from various city agencies, including the Jakarta Park Agency.

Muhayat added that the land is owned by the city administration and is rented to the businessmen for the period of 30 years on average. But he did not disclose the value of the contracts and when they would expire.

According to the data at the park agency, there are also 55 police posts that are located on green median strips and other green zones.

East Jakarta has seen the worst green zone occupation cases where 99 buildings have been constructed there, followed by West Jakarta (81), South Jakarta (57), North Jakarta (46). The exact figure for Central Jakarta is unavailable, but a source at the park agency said there were about 50 buildings on green zones in the municipality.

The city has 208.6 hectares of parks, 557.8 hectares of green median strips, and 1,295.5 hectares of green areas or city forests.

Based on the Jakarta Master Plan for 2000-2010, the city has targeted green zones to cover up to 13.94 percent of the total Jakarta area (63,744 hectares). Currently, the green zone covers some 9 percent of the total city area.

Fuel stations on the green zones

C. Jakarta: Jl. Suprapto (2,550 m2), Jl. Sudirman west side (2,244 m2), Jl. Gereja Theresia (1,655 m2), Jl. Diponegoro (941 m2), Jl. HOS Cokroaminoto (2,500 m2), Jl. Tanah Abang Timur (786 m2), Jl. Dr. Wahidin I (730 m2), Jl. Sumenep (1,530 m2), Jl. Kwitang Raya (1,050 m2), Jl. Kwitang Raya (730 m2).

N. Jakarta: Jl. Cilincing Raya (2,200 m2), Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan (1,200 m2), Jl. Enin/Tongkol (1,000 m2), Jl. Yos Sudarso (3,300 m3).

W. Jakarta: Jl. Hayam Wuruk west side (888 m2), Jl. Hayam Wuruk east side (1,125 m2), Jl. Daan Mogot (1,100 m2), Jl. Tanjung Duren (1,660 m2), Jl. Kyai Tapa (1,200 m2).

S. Jakarta: Jl. Sudirman east side (2,617 m2), Jl. Suryo/Senopati (589 m2), Jl. Pakubuwono VI (3,600 m2), Jl. Taman Matraman (1,860 m2), Jl. Lapangan Roos Tebet (1,170 m2), Jl. Wijaya I (690 m2), Jl. Pakubuwono (2,220 m2), Jl. Melawai Raya (872 m2), Jl. Mataram I (1,285 m2), Jl. Tebet Timur Raya (2,500 m2).

E. Jakarta: Jl. A. Yani (1,450 m2), Jl. A. Yani (1,443 m2), Jl. Inspeksi Kalimalang (1,200 m2).