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.