Trade center to be built in former green area

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

A trade center will be built in Cikokol, on land that had earlier been intended to remain a green area in Tangerang municipality, thanks to a revision of the master plan.

Chief of the municipal development planning body (Bappeda) Undang Herman said on Tuesday the administration would soon build a trade center to replace Cikokol vegetable market, as the plan had been approved by the municipal zoning agency.

Approval was possible, as the master plan had been revised recently, he added.

"Cikokol will be transformed into a trade center because it is very strategic and a main entry point into Tangerang from Jakarta, Bogor and Merak," he added.

The administration had also finally agreed to issue the building permit for the construction of Metropolis mall in Modernland housing estate near Cikokol market because the project was now in accordance with the master plan, he said.

Besides, he added, land clearance for trade center construction at Cikokol market would help the administration relocate hundreds of vegetable traders still reluctant to move to the less strategic Tanah Tinggi main market on Jl. Sudirman, completed last year.

The building permit application filed by developer PT Modernland Realty for the construction of Metropolis mall had earlier become a matter of heated debate between Tangerang municipal administration officials.

Municipal Capital Investment and permit office chief Dafyar Eliadi said last weekend that mall construction had violated bylaw No. 7/2001 on the riverbank and lake bank margin. According to the bylaw, buildings had to be constructed at least 50 meters away from the margin.

"The mall is due to be constructed right by the bank of Situ (lake) Cikokol, which had originally been earmarked as a water recreation site," he said, adding that it would be a difficult decision for the administration to approve the permit.

While officials had yet to make a decision, the Public Order Agency told the developer to cease work due to the developer's failure to acquire a building permit.

However, both PT Modernland, which is responsible for the construction work and PT Lippo Karawaci, which funds the project, ignored the order and continued to work on the project for the five-story, 46,000-square-meter mall building.

PT Modernland Realty spokesman Ebron Lubuk said that Mayor M. Thamrin had allowed the project to start.

Lubuk denied any possible environmental damage. He even referred to other commercial buildings and factories that had violated bylaw No. 7/2001, but where officials had turned a blind eye.

"Istana Nelayan and Selera Kuring restaurants, adjacent to the Cisadane riverbank, as well as the campus of STIMIK Raharja (a school) on the bank of Situ Cikokol, are just a few examples," he added.