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)