Master Plan made to justify violations

Master Plan made to justify violations

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jakarta's 1999 Master Plan was created to justify the
development of housing complexes in green areas by circumventing
the 1985-2005 Master Plan, which specifically prohibited such
development, environmental activists have said.

The Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) said that many
housing projects had been built on the locations which, under the
1985-2005 Jakarta City Master Plan, should have been green areas,
and safe from construction.

According to Walhi data, the 1985-2005 Master Plan stipulated
that areas in North Jakarta -- like Kelapa Gading, Sunter, and
Angke Kapuk forests -- could not be developed for housing unless
the city implemented infrastructure, such as flood-control
facilities, to prevent environmental problems like flooding.

"While the infrastructure like the East Flood Canal has not
been developed, those areas have nonetheless been used for things
like housing, industry, and business," Chairman of the Walhi's
Jakarta Chapter Ahmad Safrudin told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Ahmad also referred to the Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) housing
areas developed in the Angke Kapuk forest, housing, and business
areas in Kelapa Gading, along with an industrial zone in Sunter.

Other projects not in line with the environmental guidelines
include Vila Kapuk Emas, storehouses, and industrial areas around
Tegal Alur in North Jakarta.

The development of the property, combined with the non-
existence of the flood-control mechanisms, have largely
contributed to the recent floods in the city, according to the
environmental activists.

Ahmad, however, said that based on the 1999 Master Plan, the
Angke Kapuk forests could be developed for housing, golf courses,
or any recreation or business purpose.

The 1999 Master Plan is actually a revision of the 1995-2010
Master Plan, which was meant to replace the 1985-2005 plan.

In 1999, for the first time, the plan was designed by the city
administration and city council who issued it as a city bylaw.

Previously, the plan was only made by the city administration.

"Therefore, I am sure that the 1999 Jakarta City Master Plan,
as well as the 1995-2010 Master Plan, are a justification of the
housing projects, which are not in line with environmental
principles as stipulated in the previous masterplan," he added.

Mokhamad Agus Subardono, an official of the City Planning
Agency, admitted that many infrastructure projects like the East
Flood Canal, and a number of dams accommodating the city's total
13 rivers, have not been constructed or completed yet.

Agus said that the delay of the infrastructure development was
due to the government's financial shortfall; still, he could not
explain why the housing had been developed without such
infrastructure.

Ahmad also said that the excessive development of property
in the southern part of Jakarta, particularly from areas in the
outer ring roads to Depok, West Java, was not in line with the
1985-2005 Master Plan.

He added that, based on the plan, the Jakarta City
Administration should be very selective in issuing license
permits for any more building in the areas.

"But we can see that many houses and other projects were
developed in the areas," said Ahmad, citing the example of
Tanjung Emas housing in Tanjung Barat subdistrict in East
Jakarta, and the Kampung Rambutan bus station.