Surjadi stresses need to regreen

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said yesterday that the capital's regreening program must succeed.

Surjadi said the failure of the regreening program would result in shortage of water and ecological crisis, Antara reported.

He said Jakarta has achieved a great deal with its regreening program to date. "We planted more than one million trees as targeted in the 1993/1994 fiscal year." However, last year's record was mediocre due to the prolonged dry season, he said.

Ideally, 30 percent of the entire area of the capital should be planted in trees. "Jakarta can afford to spare only 15 percent of its area for trees," Surjadi said.

Surjadi also warned that the woods and green areas in Bogor, Puncak and Cianjur must be preserved properly. "Or else Jakarta will have no water."

The governor said he is deeply disappointed in people who do not use their yards and gardens as open, green areas. (sur)