Kalideres Crematorium Project Faces Strong Public Rejection: No Community Consultation or Environmental Permit
JAKARTA — A planned Funeral Home and Crematorium development called Swarga Abadi on Jalan Utan Jati in Kalideres, West Jakarta, has faced strong opposition from local residents.
The objections from residents of the Citra Garden 2 residential complex have even attracted the attention of members of the Jakarta Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD), leading to legal action before the State Administrative Court (PTUN).
The conflict began when residents spotted heavy machinery operating on land owned by the Jakarta Provincial Government on Jalan Utan Jati in Kalideres. Budiman Tandiono, Coordinator of the Citra Garden 2 residents’ association, complained that the large-scale project was proceeding without community consultation.
“We never received any socialisation or information. Suddenly we saw lots of activity, and it turned out they wanted to build a funeral home,” Budiman said during a protest at the project site on Saturday 28 February 2026.
Residents objected because the cremation facility was being constructed in a residential area directly adjacent to critical facilities, including Kalideres Public Hospital and several schools. “We do not oppose development if it follows the rules,” Budiman said. “We did not oppose when there was a temple, or a hospital, or a school. But this is a crematorium and funeral home in the middle of a residential area.”
Wartono, a member of the Neighbourhood Deliberative Council (LMK) for RW 19 Pegadungan, argued that using the land as a crematorium violated its original zoning designation. “This land was meant for sports facilities from the beginning. Public facilities and public amenities are not supposed to be used like this (for a crematorium). The development should be 80 per cent open space and 20 per cent closed building,” Wartono explained.
In response to the controversy, the West Jakarta municipal government held a coordination meeting with regional work units and the developer on Thursday 26 February 2026. Officials revealed that the developer had not yet completed environmental permits including the Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan (UKL-UPL) and Environmental Impact Assessment (AMDAL).
The developer had signed a commitment letter on 27 January 2026 to complete the environmental permits immediately after obtaining the Building Permit (PBG). Following the developer’s breach of this commitment, the West Jakarta municipal government ordered the immediate suspension of the crematorium construction.