Real estate business growth need control

JAKARTA (JP): The rapid growth of housing complexes in the greater Jakarta area, comprising of Jakarta, Bekasi, Tangerang and Depok, badly needs effective supervision in a bid to avoid further serious problems.

Speaking to reporters in Bandung, West Java, over the weekend, an expert on urban development from the Bandung Institute of Technology, BS Kusbiantoro, said that many complexes built in the area have already surpassed the capacity of the available environmental system and infrastructures.

Kusbiantoro, the institute's director for Urban Development Research Center, said that the mushrooming of housing complexes, developed next to many busy highways, caused heavy traffic jams.

As can be seen from most advertisements, real estate developers like to build their projects near the toll gates of highways in order to attract buyers.

Kusbiantoro told the Antara news agency that the speedy growth of estates also affected the management of the city.

"In term of infrastructures, for example, local authorities face difficulties in maintaining services," he said.

The complexes have grown so rapidly, its as if the developers have no idea concerning the future of the area, he said.

Kusbiantoro also observed that the increasing number of large- scale real estate complexes in the greater Jakarta area will cause difficulties for the smaller-scale housing complexes in the provisions of clean water and management of traffic flow and security.

Based on the above symptoms, he said, his research center urged all related authorities to give instructions about the proper use of land and seriously control the growth of housing complexes in the area.

Bekasi police chief Lt. Col. Hari Pribadi shared Kusbiantoro's view, saying that the increase in crimes recorded as well as heavy traffic jams in Bekasi are mainly caused by the incredible growth of many properties here.

Moreover, he said, many local residents sell their land and houses to buyers from Jakarta but did not put their profits in the banks.

"This condition has led robbery and theft with violence in the regency," Hari explained. (bsr)