Officers blamed for illegal projects

JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Mayor Abdul Kahfi said yesterday that the mushrooming of illegal construction projects in the mayoralty was entirely due to his subordinates' lack of knowledge about their role and existing regulations.

"These land cases occurred because heads of districts and subdistricts did not take stern action against the illicit developers due to their poor knowledge of the regulations and their area," he said, giving no further details about the unlawful projects.

By improving their awareness, council officers could prevent the growing number of non-licensed projects which normally inflict losses on local residents.

Kahfi was speaking after installing Rustam Effendi, a former deputy head of Sawah Besar district, as the new Kemayoran district head, replacing Dasril Hasibuan.

He also urged all heads of districts and subdistricts to keep on reducing the illegal land acquisitions at strategic business sites in Central Jakarta. (04)