Palmerah market to resume operation

Palmerah market to resume operation

JAKARTA (JP): The city-owned Palmerah market, which was burned
down in massive riots last year, will resume operations in
September, an official said.

He said the renovation of the market, started in February, is
expected to be completed by the end of September.

"As soon as the renovation of the market is completed, the
market will resume its operations," Mawardi Siregar, director of
the Palmerah market, said at his office on Monday.

Angry mobs burned and looted at least 13 traditional markets
throughout Jakarta in the May riots last year, leaving 3,384
kiosks and stores severely damaged.

The markets to have already resumed operations are Cempaka
Putih and Cipete markets.

Mawardi said all tenants whose kiosks were gutted by fire
during last year's riots would be subject to renovation charges
of between Rp 1.8 million to Rp 3.5 million per square meter,
depending on the size of the kiosks.

"The Ministry of Finance loaned PD Pasar Jaya Rp 5 billion to
renovate the Palmerah market, and the merchants should bear the
responsibility to repay the loan in six years," said Mawardi.

He said all 700 tenants were ready to restart their
businesses in the market.

Isnah, a kiosk owner on the ground floor of the market, said
she had spent a lot of money renovating her kiosk on her own,
prior to the official renovation by the government-appointed
developer.

In Palmerah market, merchants sell a wide range of goods,
including electronic equipment, clothing, vegetables, and even
car spare parts.

The four-story market building has a capacity of 1,029 kiosks
and stores and is equipped with a parking lot with space for 200
cars and 400 motorcycles.

The movie theater and karaoke club do not exist anymore at the
market. (asa)