Municipality to check building permits

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said the city planned to check building permits in areas like Kemang that were zoned a residential area but had many commercial buildings.

Surjadi said Tuesday that action could be taken against building owners if they are found to have abused their permits.

The city has been checking building permits in Kemang, as the residential site was overcrowded with non-residential establishments.

The Governor blamed the city's offices for the phenomena saying it was caused by lack of coordination and supervision. But he said establishments operating on temporary housing permits were allowed to continue until their permits expired.

In residential areas only 15 percent of the buildings can be non-residential.

Separately Central Jakarta Mayor Abdul Kahfi said checks were beginning on building permits in the elite residential Menteng area. Of 237 non-residential buildings there 50 have been checked, and 40 were medical centers, he said.

"These can be tolerated," Kahfi said. The remaining 10 buildings would have to be returned their original purpose in two or three years when their permits expired, he added.

South Jakarta Mayor Pardjoko said the mayoralty would invite all the owners of buildings along Jl. Wolter Monginsidi to a meeting to explain the city's plan.

Pardjoko said a team was also checking building permits in the Kebayoran Baru district, Jl. K. Ahmad Dahlan, Jl. Pattimura and other locations.

On March 18 Governor Surjadi issued the instruction to check the Kemang area because 90 percent its buildings were non- residential. (11)