Public participation in master plans invited

Public participation in master plans invited

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of National Development Planning
Ginandjar Kartasasmita said yesterday that the drafting of
spatial master plans should involve the private sector, including
individuals.

"So far the public, both private firms and individuals, have
not been involved in preparing the general spatial planning and
urban development planning, as suggested by the Zoning Law No.
24/1992," Ginandjar told reporters after opening the fourth
congress and seminar of the Indonesia Association of Planners
(IAP) at the Century Park Hotel.

He said the government has requested local administrations to
ask for public participation.

He also stressed that both the general spatial and urban
development plans are not set to facilitate private investments
but to preserve the environment for the interest of the public.

Ginandjar, who is also Chairman of the National Development
Planning Board, said that investors found responsible for
violating master plans should face sanctions.

"However, the existing master plans are currently being
reviewed as most of them were made before the introduction of the
1992 law," he said, adding that the Ministry of Home Affairs has
sent letters to authorities in all of the country's provinces,
mayoralties and regencies to review their master plans.

He said that the review of the master plans should be in line
with the Sixth Five Year Development Plan (Repelita VI) and the
State Guidelines of 1993.

Ginandjar told the congress that planners, in reviewing the
existing plans, should consider changes in the society, including
the social-economic transformation from traditional to modern
communities.

He said that by the year 2004, Indonesia will have 260 million
people -- with the assumption of annual population growth of 0.9
percent -- of whom 155 million will live in big cities.

"The number of urban centers in the country is estimated to
increase from 11 at present to 21 by 2004," he said. "One of the
centers will be the Jakarta greater area with a population of 35
million people."

He said qualified planners are needed for the development of
both cities and villages in line with the principles of
environment friendliness.(icn)