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