New road planned at former fire site

New road planned at former fire site

JAKARTA (JP): The East Jakarta Mayoralty plans to build a road along the Kalimalang river on a former fire site in the Cipinang Melayu sub-district.

Mayor Sudarsono said at the City Hall over the weekend that his mayoralty has allowed local residents to build temporary housing on the site while waiting for the commencement of construction of the project.

"Yes, they can rebuild their houses in the area but it is only temporary," Sudarsono said. Permission to use the area temporarily was made because most residents in the area consist mainly of seasonal workers who do not hold any land certificate.

A total of 300 houses were burnt down by a fire on Nov. 10, which was believed to be caused by an electric short circuit. A total of 1,200 people lost their homes.

"The land, which is owned by the state, will be used for the construction of a road heading to the Bekasi border," he said.

The road, which will be 20 meters wide, is part of the Jatiluhur dam project in West Java. A similar road has been built along the northern part of the river.

The mayor denied the rumor that the mayoralty will build low- cost apartments on the site.

"The site, which is not suitable for the establishment of residential buildings, is already earmarked for the road project by city planning," he said.

"It is impossible to build an apartment building there because two high voltage electricity networks pass right above the site," he added.

Sudarsono said as yet his office has as idea of relocating the residents to low-cost apartments in the mayoralty. He warmly welcomed any plans of the residents whose houses were destroyed by the fire.

"It will be better if they themselves apply to the East Jakarta mayoralty to live in the apartments," he explained.

There have been five sites gutted by fire in the mayoralty and the city administration is still helping the fire victims by providing food. (yns)