Spatial planning needs proactive steps

Spatial planning needs proactive steps

JAKARTA (JP): A central government official has urged the
Jakarta administration and council to take proactive steps in
ensuring suited implementation of city spatial planning ahead of
regional autonomy.

The remark was voiced on Wednesday by Haryo Sasongko, head of
the Regional Planning and Development Directorate under the
Ministry for Internal Affairs, during a meeting with members of
the City Council on the public campaign for city spatial
planning.

"City officials, councillors and the public will play an
important role in implementing city spatial planning as
stipulated in the 1999 Bylaw on City Planning," he said.

The city administration have to take stern action against any
misappropriations, such as the unwarranted development or
changing of certain areas.

He cited the city administration's failure in handling street
vendors who still freely run their businesses in parks, pathways
and streets across the capital.

He also appointed the Jakarta Administration's unsuccessful
history of taking severe measures against misappropriations of
areas initially designed as greenbelt areas but developed for
other business purposes.

The 1999 Bylaw on City Planning states the directional
guidelines in developing the capital's five mayoralties. The
bylaw also sets aside 13 percent of the city's 661.62 square
kilometers for open green space such as parks, forests and
agriculture.

According to Haryo, the misappropriations in terms of the
city's open green space had been rampant in the past with the
public reduced to passive spectators.

The administration's task is to progressively return those
areas to their original functions, he added. (lup)