Public parks to replace gas stations
Public parks to replace gas stations
JAKARTA (JP): The Chief of West Jakarta Park Office, Abuhir Siara, said the mayoralty will remove six gas stations in its area to make way for the development of public parks.
Abuhir said the decision to demolish the gas stations was made because their operational licenses have already expired. "The stations are also located on medians," he said.
He said two of the six gas stations are located on Jl. Kyai Tapa, while the other four are located on Jl. Gajah Mada, Jl. Hayam Wuruk, Jl. Kunir and Kalideres.
According to Abuhir, the decision to remove the gas stations is in line with the city administration's basic policy to build as many public parks and green areas as possible.
Abuhir was quoted by the Jayakarta daily on Wednesday as saying that it is almost certain that the operational licenses of the gas stations will not be renewed. But he refused to reveal the exact time of the demolition, saying that his office is still waiting for the city's decision on the relocation of the stations.
The City Park Office Chief, Syamsir Alam, has said that the city is planning to create 250 public parks.
He explained land scarcity in the capital is the main cause of the "misuse" of public parks, while some classic big city problems such as urbanization and the increasing demand for public service facilities also contribute to the dwindling number of public parks.
The city administration, Syamsir said, has given the City Park Office until the year 2005 to convert ten percent of Jakarta's 650 kilometers land areas into green areas.
Governor Surjadi Soedirdja has repeatedly stressed the importance of public parks. Without them, he said, rapid construction and population growth in Jakarta will make the city look like an unhealthy, concrete "jungle".
To support the city's programs, Abuhir said the West Jakarta mayoralty is now constructing two new public parks around Jl. Pesing and Jl. Pangeran Jayakarta.
The total cost of the two parks is Rp 300 million (US$136,301) and the office will also line the sidewalks on Jl. Jembatan Lima with plants and shrubbery.(mas)