Semanggi cloverleaf becomes greening symbol

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso officially dedicated Saturday the Semanggi cloverleaf in South Jakarta as a symbol for the greening of the city.

Sutiyoso said the city's greening program would be continued despite current monetary woes, but with some adjustments. Saturday's dedication was held only on a quarter of the cloverleaf area.

"Even though the program started a few years ago, there are still not enough green plots in Jakarta to help prevent pollution. So I hope this event will encourage many more entrepreneurs and building owners, especially those along Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin, to create green areas," he said.

The ceremony was highlighted by the planting of 272 5-meter trees in the quarter part of Semanggi.

On the same day, 14,000 other trees were planted simultaneously throughout the city's five mayoralties.

The program will be conducted for the next five years.

Sutiyoso said the program's goal was to set aside 40 percent of land in Jakarta for green areas.

The greening movement was declared in 1993 by President Soeharto.

By last year, Jakarta claimed to have planted 3.47 million trees, exceeding the three million target.

Saturday's ceremony was crowded by high-ranking officials, Indonesian music and movie celebrities and tycoon Sudwikatmono.

Among the guests of honor were State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, Minister of Public Works Radinal Moochtar, Minister of Forestry Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo and State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman.

During the ceremony, Sutiyoso also urged owners of high-rise buildings along the city's main streets to plant large trees in front of their buildings.

"I ask businesspeople to demolish fences in front of their buildings and to change them into parks and sidewalks to make the areas greener and friendlier," he said.

Sarwono also hoped citizens would support the movement by planting not only big and productive trees, but also vegetables.

"Besides, for the sake of the green movement, the trees would also be useful for meeting family needs," he said.

When asked about the importance of the ceremony for the greening movement, since the country was under a monetary crisis, Sutiyoso said it was normal to have a little ceremony to kick off a movement.

"I don't think we're overreacting. What we have here is a simple ceremony, held especially to pool people's interest, especially businesspeople, to join the city program.

"We're in the fasting month. No food or beverages are being served. So what's wrong with it? It's not that we're being thrifty. The most important thing is for the program to run well," he added.

Sutiyoso said his ambition to make Jakarta green was serious, since his goal was to plant millions of trees in the city's five mayoralties.

"Let's plant fruit trees. I'll never stop this project because this city is in need of better environmental conditions. It is predicted Jakarta will have a population of nine million people soon. This is not an easy thing to cope with," he said. (edt/ind)