Residents complain over house damages

JAKARTA (JP): Six residents of the Mangga Dua Selatan subdistrict, Central Jakarta, filed a complaint with the City Council yesterday over damages to their houses caused by a construction project.

"We are complaining because negotiations with the owner and developer of the project ended in a deadlock and nothing is being done," Siswandi, a spokesman for the group, told the City Council's Commission D which is in charge of development affairs.

Siswandi explained that the project's quarrying of land has caused the walls of 40 houses to crack. Six of the houses are on the brink of collapse due to severe damage.

He said that local residents had contacted the developer of the building, PT Sumicon Utomo, twice to settle the matter before filing a complaint to the City Council.

"As we didn't receive a single response from the developer, we later approached the owner of the project, PT Duta Pertiwi, and held talks with officials of the Central Jakarta's development and supervision office," Siswandi said.

He added that the meeting accomplished nothing as both the owner and developer refused to take responsibility for the damages.

"The latest meeting was held two days ago at the office of the Central Jakarta military command and once again they refused to pay for damages," he explained.

Siswandi also said most of the residents have been living there for years.

He acknowledged that the owner and developer had previously told local residents to submit an estimate for the repair of the six severely damaged houses. But after being told the cost would total Rp 15 million (US$6,800) they refused to pay.

"They just laughed when they read the estimate and said they were willing to pay only Rp 5 million," Siswandi said, adding that the amount is unquestionably inadequate for the repairs.

Members of the City Council said that according to existing regulations the developer is obligated to pay compensation for houses damaged due to construction.

"But I urge you not to demand money. Instead ask them to repair your houses," said Albert Sirait, one of the commission members, adding that PT Sumicon Utomo and PT Duta Pertiwi will be in violation of the law if they refuse to be responsible for the damages.

Bandjar Marpaung, chairman of Commission D, said the commission will hold a meeting with the companies and visit the location today. (yns)