Residents complain over house damages

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)