Medan loses its historical buildings

Medan loses its historical buildings

MEDAN, North Sumatra: The capital of North Sumatra, Medan, will soon lose its rich legacy of historical buildings because they are being demolished at an alarming rate, say non- governmental organizations (NGOs).

Medan city administration has failed to heed provincial ruling No. 6/1988 which bans demolition of historical buildings, Hasti Tarekat told reporters in Medan on Tuesday after meeting the head of provincial legislators.

The executive director of the Sumatra Legacy Body was accompanied by representatives of seven other NGOs.

Hasti said almost 90 percent of Medan's 42 buildings under government protection had either been modified or demolished. The local government declared 42 buildings and areas to be of significant historical value or only about half of the 73 buildings and areas that the body considered should be untouchable.

In their meeting with legislator Tom Adlin Hajar, the activists cited three buildings that have been demolished; Kerapatan building on Jl. Brig. Jen. Katamso, a bank building on Jl. Pemuda and the Public Works office on Jl. Listrik.

One building the body believes to be of historical value but had not been protected by the provincial government was the Mega Eltra building, which was constructed in 1912 and belonged to a resident.

The city government claimed it was not on the list of protected buildings and so had been sold for Rp 26 billion to make way for a shopping center. The building has now been completely demolished. --JP