More land needed for cemeteries

Jakarta will need at least 700 hectares of land for cemeteries by the year of 2005, said Sridhana, an official of the city administration.

Sridhana said his office intends to make cemeteries also function as water catchments.

After leading a comparative study tour to Medan last week, Sridhana said the city plans cemeteries based on green, beautiful systematic principles.

He explained that the city administration is currently implementing a cross subsidy system in which those who can afford it pay Rp 50,000 (US$22) to rent a plot in a cemetery for three years while the poor can get free services, Antara news agency reported.

Existing lands for cemeteries is 576 hectares, he said. (yns)