Sun, 26 Sep 1999

Keep Monas clean

I read an article about the National Monument (Monas) Park in the Sept. 9 The Jakarta Post. I am a regular visitor to Monas and would like to make the following suggestions about the park's upkeep:

* All roads leading to Monas and around the area should be closed to vehicle traffic from late at night until 7 a.m. so that Jakartans can enjoy their morning exercise in clean air free from pollution. Similarly, on weekends and holidays, no vehicle traffic should be allowed in the area.

* No person should be allowed to live permanently around toilets and all temporary structures should be demolished.

* No vendors should be allowed to store their merchandise or keep trolleys etc. overnight in the Monas area to avoid a permanent market from becoming established.

* Food stalls should be allowed only in a designated area to ensure that Monas Park does not become dirty. They are the main source of garbage and must be controlled.

* We should maintain Monas Park as a site of our national pride and keep it clean, with well maintained greenery similar to parks in other capitals of the world.

K.K. AGRAWAL

Jakarta