Illegal gas pumps defended

Illegal gas pumps defended

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

City Governor Sutiyoso said on Tuesday that some 32 gasoline
filling stations located in "green" areas here could not be
closed down, even though their permits had expired and there were
no suitable alternative locations for them.

"We can take no action against them as we have not yet found
new locations," he said.

Some 10 of the 32 stations are located in the Menteng, Senen,
Tanah Abang, Cempaka Putih and Sawah Besar districts of Central
Jakarta.

Two stations in Tebet, South Jakarta are also located in green
areas.

It may also be the case that the city administration is
reluctant to revoke the permits for the stations as many of them
are owned by important figures, such Taufik Kiemas, the husband
of President Megawati Soekarnoputri, and widows of the country's
national heroes.

Sources said the administration would extend the permits on
condition that the owners installed liquefied petroleum gas
filling equipment at the stations.-JP