Jakarta, W. Java sign deal on development
Jakarta, W. Java sign deal on development
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso and his West Java counterpart
R. Nuriana signed five joint draft agreements yesterday in
connection with projects overseen by the Jabotabek
(Jakarta-Bogor-Tangerang-Bekasi) Development Cooperation Agency
(BKSP).
The drafts are designed to facilitate the introduction of an
integral land use plan between the two neighboring provinces.
They were signed during the Jabotabek BKSP plenary meeting and
covered guidelines for holding a plenary meeting, upgrading
development unification and integrity among areas, and
determining boundaries, status of staff and the emblem of the
agency.
"It is crucial to complete the Jabotabek BKSP projects.
Without them, we cannot start the integral development in these
areas," Nuriana said.
With the help of the National Planning Board (Bappenas) which
oversees BKSP, he said the land-use plan could be accomplished
soon.
Bappenas deputy Manuwoto said the integral Jabotabek BKSP
land-use plan should be completed in 1999 as by then all the
input from the city's five mayoralties and other Greater Jakarta
districts would have been gathered and studied.
Sectoral plans were being designed by foreign consultants, he
added.
"Hopefully with Bappenas involvement there will be no
difficult issues such as financial problems, because all this
time we make so many plans but we have no money to realize them."
"Each of the areas involved will have autonomy to make land-
use plans within its boundaries. We are trying to synchronize all
of the plans to eliminate overlapping problems," Nuriana said.
In the meantime, he said, problems over developing the areas
often occurred due to a lack of coordination.
Governor Sutiyoso shared the same opinion.
"I really wish the draft agreements can boost BKSP's work.
Jakarta and its surrounding areas have been facing serious
problems for some time.
"For instance, the massive growth of certain areas outside
Jakarta is not followed by (the creation of) sufficient
infrastructure so people still have to go to the city to find
jobs."
Nuriana suggested developing some of Jakarta's environs into
self-sufficient cities.
"At present, surrounding areas such as Tangerang and Bekasi
(officially under the West Java supervision) are still dependent
on Jakarta. The people work in Jakarta but eat and sleep outside
the capital," he said.
Former Jakarta governor Surjadi Soedirdja, who attended the
meeting as guest of honor, said the growth of satellite cities
around Jakarta had made matters worse.
"Those towns are supposed to be self-sufficient. But in fact,
they burden Jakarta with traffic problems, transportation chaos,
unemployment issues and many other things," Surjadi said.
"I think there's no choice for the city but to develop into an
environmentally friendly city, where all development aspects and
impacts are observed thoroughly."
Other major issues discussed at yesterday's meeting included
the disappearance of water reservoirs.
It also inaugurated the handover of three fire-engines from
the Jakarta municipality to Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi
authorities. (edt/ind)