Jakarta glitters with light campaign

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta at night. Colorful lights decorate skyscrapers and strategic places to make Jakarta "alive" 24 hours a day.

That is what the city government officials are dying to see, at least over the coming few months when Jakartans celebrate the city's 468th anniversary and the nation's 50th Independence Day, which falls on Aug.17.

Deputy Governor for Economic and Development Affairs Tb. M. Rais set the wheels in motion on Friday night when he switched on the decorative lamps surrounding the HI Roundabout in front of Hotel Indonesia.

He was launching the Jakarta Indah di Malam Hari (beautiful Jakarta at night) campaign.

"Jakarta is already beautiful during the day and it will even be more beautiful if the city looks alive at night," Rais said.

Rais said the owners or management of high-rise buildings can decide the lamp type or design for themselves.

PLN, the state-owned electricity company, has granted a special electricity rate for the decorative lamps installed outside the buildings.

"PLN has decided to charge only one third of the usual price and the city administration appreciates the policy," Rais said.

There are about 34 decorative lamps, 17 lamps in the west, eight in the east, four in the south and five lamps in the north side of the HI Roundabout.

Rais also urged Jakartans to participate in this special activity by installing decorative lamps in front their houses.

"There are areas in the city where residents have not participated in the activity, such as on Jl. Pintu Air, Central Jakarta, Karet and Manggarai in South Jakarta," Rais said. (yns)