Triple-tier developer urged to be open
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso yesterday urged the developer on the triple-tier transit project to place project implementation details in the public domain.
"Up until now, no date has been fixed for starting the project," he told reporters.
"I think it is important for the developer to inform the city administration (about details of the project) so that we in turn can begin to inform the public," he said.
The social impact of the project is potentially very large. The city administration could help solve the problem of moving people of land and advise the developer on aspects of the project which affect the city as a whole.
Upon being asked when the mega-project would start, Sutiyoso immediately said: "The developer has not informed me. Please asked Mbak Tutut," referring to Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, who won the project contract.
The project developer, PT Citra Moda Margakencana, has for the third time announced a delay in starting construction work. It has yet to fix a fourth definite starting date.
Meanwhile, head of the City Environmental Impact Supervision Board (Bapedalda) Prawoto Danoemihardjo told The Jakarta Post that a coordinating team had been set up by the municipality and the project developer last month.
Among the tasks assigned to the team is to determine the scope of the project and to study the social and environmental impact of the planned construction, he said.
In a related development, Mas Achmad Santosa from the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law told a discussion on Monday that public involvement in preparing the environmental impact study was important.
"In the case of large projects, people are often not consulted. They know about it only after they have lost their homes and jobs.
"I agree that the project is needed to help solve the city's chaotic traffic situation. But please, be more open with the people about this," Santosa said.
Approximately 3,263 families and 1,278 houses will be affected by construction in the first stage of the project.
The first phase involves laying 14 kilometers of track from Dipo in South Jakarta to Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta.
The Rp 6.2 trillion triple-tier system will eventually combine 23.65 kilometers of toll roads, 22km of light railway and the existing road network along the planned route.
The developer, PT Citra Moda Margakencana, is a joint-venture between PT Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada, a company owned by President Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, Perumka, the state-owned railway company, PT Jasa Marga, the state-owned highway corporation.
The system is expected to begin operation in 2001.
The project will affect a total of 38 subdistricts in 13 districts from Bintaro in South Jakarta to Kota in West Jakarta.
Head of commission D for development affairs, Ali Wongso Sinaga, told reporters yesterday that PT Citra Moda Margakencana should obey all relevant regulations when acquiring land.
He said that the terms of Presidential Decree No. 55/1993 obliged developers to discuss land acquisition with affected local residents.
"The process should be carried out before the project starts. Compensation for the land procured should also be negotiated with local residents," he said. (edt/ind)