Jakarta Provincial Government has disbursed huge budget for the maintenance of parks in the capital city. Unfortunately, some parks in West Jakarta green belt are seen not well-maintained by related unit.

The land has become a place for scavengers to gather their secondhand goods for five years. There is no control done all this time

One of those parks is located on Jalan Bilangan, RT 01/01, Jembatan Besi Urban Village, Tambora Sub-District, West Jakarta, has changed function into a base of plastic trash collectors and street vendors’ stalls. In the middle of the park there are chicken cages and wood piled. As the result, the park looks very dirty and nasty.

“ The land has become a place for scavengers to gather their secondhand goods for five years. There is no control done all this time ,” disclosed Yasin (40), a local, Tuesday (5/13).

Similar view is also seen on green belt along Jalan Daan Mogot, starting from Kalideres until Grogol, where there is only dry land planted by oil palm trees type. This condition is very contrast to the green belt along Jalan Kembangan Raya, exactly around West Jakarta Mayor office, which planted by many huge trees and ornamental plants, thus making the area looks green and lush.

West Jakarta Administration Assistant for Development and Environment, Azril Marsuki, admitted that the condition of green open spaces (RTH) in West Jakarta is still concerning. According to him, current green open spaces are still far from city’s ideal standards which require 30 percent of total area as green areas.

“Through Parks Sub-Department, we will prioritize the parks re-function program by first inventorying the parks that have changed function. And then, we will continue to the parks repair works,” he stated.