Surjadi concerned over condition of traditional markets

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja expressed concern yesterday over the poor condition of many traditional markets, and about the way sidewalk vendors were conducting business on pavements.

The governor made the remarks in his working visit to Gandaria Utara and Kramat Pela subdistricts in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.

"We have to abolish an image which depicts that traditional markets are dirty and disorganized," he said.

Even though supermarkets are mushrooming in the city, traditional markets are still needed by people because of the convenience of bargaining and the possibility of obtaining things cheaply.

"I ask officers of the related institutions to pay more attention to sanitation in the traditional markets," he said.

Commenting on the incorrect use of pavements, the governor said it is caused mainly by many vendors having a need to make a living.

"I am not against the vendors, but please don't operate on the pavements. The vendors' operations on the pavements disturb the nearby areas, thereby causing traffic jams," Surjadi said.

He said that he will ask the related offices to take action against vendors that trade on the pavements.

"This action has nothing to do with humanity. We just want to uphold existing laws," he said.

Seeing many pavements damaged despite being newly constructed, Surjadi said that the constructors should be held responsible.

"They should not be good at just getting profit. How can a pavement which was constructed just one month ago already be damaged?" he asked.

"I even think that maybe it is necessary for the city administration to make a pavement office in charge of taking care of pavements throughout the city," Surjadi said, urging the City Public Works Office to supervise every pavement construction project being undertaken.

River dredging

Surjadi later inspected the implementation of the river normalization program in the two subdistricts and said that a lot of funds are needed annually to finance the program.

Rp 2 billion (US$909,000) is allocated annually from the city budget to finance the river dredging project, but it is sufficient only to remove garbage from the city's rivers. A much larger fund is needed to clean up the rivers properly.

The river normalization program, handled by the Public Works Office, covers 13 rivers. They are Ciliwung, Mokevaart, Angke, Pesanggrahan, Grogol, Cipinang, Kali Baru, Sunter, Jati Kramat, Krukut, Buaran, Kramat and Cakung rivers.

During the governor's visit, local residents said that the Grogol River, which passes through the two subdistricts, is often flooded during the rainy season.

Recently, head of City Public Works Office Soeharto said that the city administration should provide more funds from its budget to facilitate the implementation of an intensive dredging program as a part of the municipality's program to normalize the function of the city's rivers.

He said that each day at least 1,350 cubic meters of garbage was thrown into the 13 rivers flowing through the city. The public works office is able to remove about 350 cubic meters of garbage per day, with about 600 cubic meters being carried out to sea. The remaining 400 cubic meters of garbage piles up on the river banks. (31)