Shop-houses have no building permits

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of shop-houses in Kelapa Gading Barat sub-district, North Jakarta, have no building permit (IMB), a councillor said on Wednesday.

Posman Siahaan of the Justice and Unity Party (PKP) asked the local authority to investigate the case, as the developer, PT Wisma Benhill, continues to run the construction project, located on Jl. Raya Boulevard Barat.

He also said the complex construction was formally launched by President Abdurrahman Wahid last September.

All of the shop-houses, each measuring 40 sqm, have been sold at a price of between Rp 900 million (more than US$95,000) and Rp 1.3 billion, depending on the location.

Contacted separately, chief of the City Development Supervision Office Djumhana confirmed that the project has no building permit.

"It has yet to even get a block plan permit from the city's planning agency, that's why the owner couldn't apply for a building license," he said.

According to Djumhana, chief of North Jakarta's city development supervision, his office has already sent a demolition permit to the developer to stop construction activity.

Meanwhile, chief of the city planning section of Kelapa Gading district office Fanti said that the land is owned by the Navy Central Cooperative (Inkopal), and that they've already got Permits on Land Use (SIPPT).

She said the process of issuing a block plan has just been completed, but she also confirmed that there is a demolition permit required in order to obtain clearance for building construction from the local authority.

According to Gubernatorial Decree No. 316/1984, any developer should obtain a building permit before starting construction activity. (04)