Water catchment area needs protection

Water catchment area needs protection

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja reiterated the importance of maintaining South Jakarta as the city's main water catchment area, to help secure an adequate supply of water.

Speaking at the opening of the Ciliwung River rowboat competition on Sunday, Surjadi urged officials of the South Jakarta Mayoralty to strictly prevent any possible violations in the use of lands, mainly for the construction of residential buildings, in the area.

The governor said that city administration issued Regulation No. 3/1987 regarding requirements for the construction of houses in the mayoralty's three districts -- Jagakarsa, Cilandak and Pasar Minggu, Antara reported.

Based on the regulation, which is aimed mainly at curbing reckless expansion of construction projects, people intending to build houses in the districts are required to apply for building permits from the South Jakarta city planning office.

People are told to understand and obey the standard construction coefficient, in which the building must not cover more than 20 percent of the land.

The governor praised South Jakarta Mayor H. Pardjoko for his decision to launch an integrated service for the processing of land certificates and building permits for local residents.

At the ceremony Pardjoko said that the one-day rowboat competition was one of his mayoralty's efforts to promote clean living and a well-organized environment among local residents.

Seventeen boats, consisting of 4 crews each, joined the competition, which covered 10 kilometers from the Srengseng Sawah sub-district to Jagakarsa through Condet Bridge on Jl. Simatupang. (25)