Soeharto gives green light to Jonggol project

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto approved yesterday his second son's plan to develop a self-sufficient city in Jonggol, Bogor, about 50 kilometers southeast of here, but called on developer PT Bukit Jonggol Asri not to sacrifice local residents' interests.

Speaking at the presentation of the plan at Bina Graha, the presidential office, Soeharto said the project should not be against national development which was for the people's prosperity.

"There must not be any forceful eviction of local families. If evictions cannot be avoided the evicted people must be made more prosperous," the President said.

State Minister for National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono, Minister of Public Works Radinal Moochtar, Minister of Forestry Djamaluddin Soeryohadikoesoemo, State Minister for Agrarian Affairs Soni Harsono and Minister of Defense and Security Edi Sudradjat were at the presentation.

The president's son, Bambang Trihatmodjo, who heads the developer, and West Java Governor R. Nuriana were also present.

Ginandjar said after the presentation President Soeharto frequently asked the developer to be extra careful not to harm local residents interests.

"The blue print must be available. In this way the development project can be properly carried out. Avoid any criticism which says the developer will just spread poverty," Soeharto was quoted as saying.

President Soeharto asked the governor and the Bogor administration to stop land speculation. "Experience teaches us that land prices soar after a permit to develop an area is issued," he said.

"The governor should not allow any land brokerage," he said.

Rumors have it that PT Bukit Jonggol Asri plan to move Jakarta's central administration to the Jonggol subdistrict.

PT Bukit Jonggol Asri is a consortium set up by Bambang with the Kaestindo Group.

Governor R. Nuriana said the consortium would develop a 30,000 hectare area: 15,000 hectares of residential land, an administration center, a railway station, a cemetery, a waste disposal site, and an industrial estate. The other 15,000 hectares would be for protected areas: rice fields, tourism sites, and a reservoir, Nuriana said.

President Soeharto said the industrial estate should be planned properly.

"Proper planning will help investors expand their businesses," Soeharto said.

The President quoted research stating half of Indonesia's population would eventually live in cities.

He said Indonesia's population would reach 300 million in 2030.

Jakarta now had three satellite towns, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi, which would not meet requirements of satellite towns in the future, Soeharto said.

"Now the townships are no longer adequate," he said, citing the messy traffic caused by township residents going to and from their work places in Jakarta. (sur)