Mayoralty to demolish Senayan building
JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta mayoralty has threatened to demolish a building within the Bung Karno Sports Complex as the owner had violated its construction permit, an official said here on Monday.
Central Jakarta Mayor Andi Subur Abdullah noted that the site where the building is constructed is zoned as public space. The building is located south of the Jakarta Convention Center
"The mayoralty expects the company (who owns the building) to demolish the building. Should it refuse to do so, we shall take stern action by demolishing it this weekend," he remarked.
He said the mayoralty had warned the building management PT Anggara on June 25 and on Aug. 7 to stop construction. However, the company continued regardless.
PT Anggara claimed that it had received a permit to construct a temporary structure on the 7,000-square-meter area from the Bung Karno Sports Complex Management Board, which manages the area.
The management board, established by the state secretary, reportedly approved the proposal of PT Anggara early in June.
In the proposal, PT Anggara said that the construction of the building was aimed at "helping small-scale companies to exhibit their products at the same location as the Jakarta Convention Center at a lower rate."
However, it had violated the permit by erecting a permanent building from cement and steel.
Once the building is leveled, the mayoralty plans to restore the site as part of the Senayan green belt, Andi said, adding that the city needed more green areas to counter air pollution.
Currently, several commercial buildings are located on about 109 hectares of the 279-hectare Bung Karno Sports Center Complex, including Plaza Senayan, Hotel Mulia and Jakarta Convention Center.
The mayoralty's decision to demolish PT Anggara's building was applauded by the city administration and the City Council.
The deputy chairman of Commission B for economic affairs, Agung Imam Soemanto, admitted that PT Anggara had sent its employees to ask councillors to approve the construction of the building.
"The councilllors could not approve the request considering that PT Anggara had violated the building permit," he remarked.
Separately, Governor Sutiyoso voiced the City Council's support for the mayoralty.
"It is about law enforcement; the mayoralty should go ahead with its plan to demolish the building," he remarked.
Previously, Sutiyoso claimed that the current management board had mismanaged the sports complex, referring to some irregularities.
He said that in accordance with the autonomy law, the right to manage the Bung Karno Sports Complex should be transferred to the city administration.
The Indonesian Sports Committee (KONI), however, also staked its claim over the area.
The state secretary has not made any decision on the matter. (04)