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.