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)