Pulogadung fire victims allowed to rebuild houses

Pulogadung fire victims allowed to rebuild houses

JAKARTA (JP): The residents of the fire-ravaged kampongs in
Pulogadung said yesterday that East Jakarta mayor Sudarsono had
given them permission to rebuild their houses.

Neighborhood chief Baud Soekarno said he met the mayor after
Saturday's fire and residents were free to rebuild their wooden
houses.

Baud quoted the mayor as saying they could be rebuilt "on the
condition that the houses should be tidier. There should be only
one story buildings and these are not to be rented. The alleys in
the housing complex should not be too narrow."

Three-hundred families, or 1750 people, lost their homes when
fire razed about 300 houses in two kampongs. Witnesses said the
fire started when a stove exploded in a house rented by a woman.

The woman has since disappeared.

Most of the kampongs' residents worked for housing
construction companies, Baud said.

"That's why we are quite quick to rebuild our houses," he
said.

Baud said the people did not have land certificates. Local
officials have been confused trying to identify the land's
rightful owners.

He said most residents rented the land from brokers for
between Rp 75,000 and Rp 100,000 a year.

Subroto, a Pulogadung subdistrict official said the 1.5
hectare site was owned by the government.

Aid, including food, has poured in from the subdistrict office
and the Office of the Ministry of Social Services.

The state water company, PAM Jaya, is supplying tap water.
(07)