Triple-tier transit project needs Amdal

JAKARTA (JP): Lecturers and a city official have called on the developer of the triple-tier transit system -- to link Bintaro in South Jakarta to downtown Kota in West Jakarta -- to fast-track the project's Environmental Impact Analysis (Amdal).

Retno Soetaryono and Haswinar Arifin of the University of Indonesia underlined yesterday the importance of transparency because the project would affect a lot of poor people.

"Most of the residents to be affected by the project are those living along the railway tracks on which the project will be built," she said.

"All of those people may be illegal residents, but remember that the plots are their homes and their economic base too because most of them are working in the informal sector."

At least 707 families in 571 houses living along the tracks will reportedly be affected by the implementation of the first phase of the project, from Ulujami in South Jakarta to Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta.

"The developer must think about the social and economic impact and be responsible for it," Retno said.

The developer's primary concern should be finishing the environmental analysis before proceeding with the project.

"I'll give you an example of how bad the state of our city is. Many parts of Jakarta were inundated early this week after heavy rain for only two days. To date we don't have any effective solution for the flooding.

"Now, imagine building such a big project without caring about its environmental impact. What will happen? It will only create new problems for Jakarta."

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Rp 6.2 trillion project was postponed last month for the third time as the city focused on the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly from March 1 to March 11.

The triple-tier system will combine 23.65 kilometers of toll roads, 22km of light-rail tracks and existing roads.

PT Citra Moda Margakencana Persada -- a joint-venture company comprising PT Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada, owned by Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, the state-owned railway company (Perumka) and state-owned highway corporation PT Jasa Marga -- is to develop the project.

The system is expected to begin operation in 2001.

Haswinar Arifin expressed his concern about the project's lack of socialization and information provided to the people.

"Personally, I don't know a lot about the project. So what will happen to those innocent people who have never been told about this but who have to be evicted in the name of development?"

E. Kosasih from the City Environmental Bureau also expressed concern about the project.

"The developer has submitted the framework of its Environmental Impact Analysis. How can they can go ahead with the project before completing the studies?

Sukmawati from the traffic management and environmental analysis division of PT Citra Moda Margakencana Persada said the company planned to hold a meeting with the Amdal committee and Environmental Impact Management Agency to discuss the environmental analysis on March 24.

"Our main obstacle is the social impact of the project, namely ordering illegal residents to move off Perumka's land," she said.

The Amdal committee consists of many parties, including the Ministry of Transportation, Perumka, Jasa Marga and non- government organizations such as Walhi. (edt)