Triple-tier transit project needs Amdal

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)