Tangerang villages to be upgraded

Tangerang villages to be upgraded

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post/Tangerang

A recent call from Tangerang Council chairman Dadang Kartasasmita
to divide Tangerang regency into two regencies and one
municipality has prompted the regency administration to upgrade
the status of villages, particularly those bordering Jakarta,
into subdistricts.

Regent Ismet Iskandar said the upgrading of villages bordering
Jakarta into four districts of Serpong, Ciputat, Pamulang and
Pondok Aren -- which has been proposed as a separate
municipality, Cipasera -- would start next year.

"We don't want the four districts to separate from the current
regency and become an independent municipality. The only option
is to upgrade the status of those villages into subdistricts," he
said recently.

Another concern regarding the upgrading of the status of
villages in the four districts is that they have served to
accommodate housing complexes for people working in Jakarta.

Residents of Ciputat, Pamulang, Serpong and Pondok Aren
districts previously demanded the establishment of an independent
municipality, as they were disappointed with regental policies
that, they said, did not accommodate their infrastructure needs.

The administration has drafted a bylaw stipulating the
upgrading status. The bylaw is being endorsed by the regency
council.

Ismet pointed out that upgrading of the status would have a
consequence as there would no more be a direct election for
village heads, as subdistrict chiefs, who are civil servants,
would be appointed directly by the regent.

The regent had promised to build roads connecting several
districts, including Ciputat, Serpong, Curug, Legok, Tigaraksa
and Balaraja.