Jakartans call Puncak just perfect

Jakartans call Puncak just perfect

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Though there is growing concern over the continued loss of
green areas to encroaching villas in Puncak, West Java, many
Jakartans still view the area as an idyllic resort where they can
escape day-to-day life in the crowded capital.

That many areas in Puncak are meant to be water catchment
areas and an environmental buffer zone for Jakarta seems to be
beyond the consideration of many of these happy holidaymakers.

No matter the evidence, many of these people doubt that the
incessant development in the area can be blamed as the main cause
of the devastating floods which paralyzed much of Jakarta last
month.

Noted economist Mohammad Sadli, who also served as finance
minister during the Soeharto administration, is among those who
doubt the environmental impact of villas built one to two
kilometers from the main road in Puncak.

"The villas are built on small plots of land, and most of the
land remains forested areas," Sadli told The Jakarta Post on
Monday.

Sadli said he had driven through Puncak to his villa in
Cimacan every week for more than 20 years.

He said that those people who blamed the recent flooding in
Jakarta on the construction of villas in Puncak should back their
allegation with scientific proof.

Many experts, however, have gone on record as saying that the
construction of villas and other buildings in the mountain resort
increased land erosion and reduced water catchment areas, which
in turn contributed to flooding in the capital.

Another source said that the villas were beginning to encroach
further on the forests in Puncak. In Sukagalih village, Cisarua
subdistrict, five illegal villas have been constructed eight
kilometers off the main road, along with dozens of other villas
located nearer to the main road. This encroachment is also taking
place in other villages in Puncak.

Sadli said that between 10 and 20 years ago, most Jakartans
had no interest in building a villa in Puncak, which they
considered to be too far away and too high up in the mountains.
Rather, those who could afford villas preferred the lower-located
Megamendung.

But since the economic boom of the 1980s, more and more
Jakarta residents have been scooping up land in Puncak. This
construction boom has also been helped by improved
infrastructure, including the Jagorawi toll road, Sadli said.

The popularity of the area is evident from the massive backups
every Saturday and Sunday along the lone road connecting Jakarta
and Puncak. Jakartans looking for an enjoyable weekend escape can
spend up to eight hours in their vehicles trying to reach Puncak,
which is no more than a two-hour drive in normal conditions.

Sadli also questioned the government's ability to put an end
to the construction of villas in Puncak despite the mounting
criticism and scrutiny from the public.

"I doubt that the government would be able effectively to stop
the construction of villas in Puncak because it does not have the
political will," he asserted.

He added that moves to put a halt to the construction of the
villas would be opposed by many locals, many of whom depend on
residents of the villas for their income.

If the government wants to address flooding in Jakarta, it
should start with the construction of the Eastern Flood Canal, he
said.

And for many Jakartans, Puncak will never be thought of as a
vital water catchment area. It was always be seen as a much-
needed resort area where they can relax and grab a breath of
fresh air.

Soebagyo, 47, who goes to a friend's villa in Cibodas every
month for a family gathering, said she never entertained any
concerns about the loss of green areas in Puncak.

"What concerns us is that we need a spacious place to gather
with our relatives because most of our homes in Jakarta are
small," she said.

"The villa has been there for years. My friend bought it from
the developer for a cheap price at the time," she added. "There
we can enjoy playing tennis and beautiful and rural scenery."

She said that she and her relatives always used the villa free
of charge. But she has to give some tips for the villa's
janitors.

"Using the villa as the venue of our family gathering is more
efficient than using one of our houses in Jakarta," she said.

Fajar Hermawan, 22, a student at Atma Jaya University, said he
would rent a villa in Puncak to celebrate his friend's birthday
next week.

"I will pay Rp 900,000 for a villa with facilities like a
swimming pool, basketball court and tennis court," Fajar said.
"My friends also very often rent the villas in Puncak for their
special functions."

He also revealed that renting a villa in Puncak had become
more expensive over the last three years.

"About two or three years ago, we were able to rent a nice
villa for Rp 200,000 or Rp 300,000 per night. Now it costs about
Rp 600,000. The increase is partly because of Jakartans' rising
demands for the villas," he said.