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)