Shop-house building torn down

BOGOR (JP): Parts of a four-story shop-house building project on Jl. Raya Tajur in Sindangsari subdistrict here have finally been demolished as they cling to the nearby riverbank.

"The destruction of parts of the project was in compliance with an agreement with the Bogor Mayoralty," Dendy Soemantri, head of Bogor Mayoralty's inspectorate, said Monday.

The demolition was conducted by a team of the mayoralty's public order officers and losses incurred from this act were born by the owners, Antara quoted him as saying.

Due to violation of regulations, Bogor Mayor Eddy Gunardi had earlier instructed developers of the building project to stop construction, but the instruction was not heeded.

According to regulations, any building built by the river must be at least 10 meters from the riverbank, but the shop-houses were being built directly on the riverbank, leaving no space.

The demolition was conducted in response to complaints by nearby residents after one of the project's walls collapsed.

Even though no casualties were reported at that time, it was feared that someday a tragic incident would occur, Soleh, one of the residents, said. (hhr)