More houses built illegally

BEKASI (JP): As the unrest triggered by the cancellation of a housing project in an irrigated area still lingers, another realtor has confessed to building 48 houses before having official permits.

The 21-square-meter houses on a 3,500-square-meter plot of land were built by PT Miyagi in Mustikasari, Bantargebang district.

Each house is to be sold on a credit basis, with a down payment of Rp 2 million (U$890) and monthly installments of Rp 100,000 over a period of seven years.

Director of PT Miyagi Ida Sutisna told journalists on Wednesday that the building permits are still being processed by the local government.

She insisted that because she has "only" 3,500 square meters of land on which to build the houses, an official permit to acquire the property is not necessary.

"What we need to do is to give written notice to the Bekasi Development Planning Board," she said in reply to worries that the absence of an acquisition permit would further complicate the project.

Meanwhile, PT Tigaputro Intipersada, which has failed to obtain an official building permit for its housing project in the Tambun district, has decided to refund the down payments of its 1,000 customers who have each paid between Rp 1.2 million and Rp 4,8 million.

The firm's marketing director Harry said that the customers can obtain their refunds at his office in North Jakarta.

PT Tigaputro Intipersada intended to build 800 houses of different types and sizes but the local government refused to issue a permit because the proposed site is located in a fertile irrigated area.

It appropriated 17 hectares of land which the subdistrict chief assured was unproductive land.

Deputy regent Dede Satibi said that the area the company has appropriated is very fertile and cannot be converted into a residential area.

Chief of the Bekasi Development Planning Board Asnawi Singarimbun called on the public to be careful when buying houses from realtors.

People should find out things like the legal status of the land before they decide to buy, he said. (12/pan)