Vendors Rampant, Revitalization in Kota Tua Takes Long TIme
Reported by TP Moan Simanjuntak | Translated by Nugroho Adibrata
The current street vendors growth is about 200 percent. Evidently, its amount has increased more than 700 people compared to last year which reached only 260 people
The revitalization process for Kota Tua area initiated by Jakarta Provincial Government is apparently difficult to be realized in a short time. This is because the growth of street vendors (PKL) keeps increasing and cause the Kota Tua area looks dirty and chaotic.
Such revitalization has been ongoing since March ago where its inauguration conducted by Jakarta Governor, Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo. This revitalization consists of restoration, reconstruction, infrastructure, conservation and greening processes, which one of them is arranging street vendors in the Kota Tua. One of the focused locations is Jakarta History Museum or popularly known as Fatahillah Museum.
All Kota Tua Infrastructures will Be RevitalizedHead of Jakarta Cooperative Small Micro Medium Enterprises and Trade (KUMKMP) Department, Joko Kundaryo expressed that the existence of street vendors in Kota Tua is not comparable with the land wide. Thus, the ideal arrangement is estimated cannot be implemented.
"The current street vendors growth is about 200 percent. Evidently, its amount has increased more than 700 people compared to last year which reached only 260 people. That means, with proportional vendor areas who are given only stall in the size of 1x2 square meter will be difficult to implement," he expressed, Monday (6/2).
Kundaryo asserted that KUMKMP department would control the street vendors as soon as possible using persuasive approach. "We also try to provide a strategic location to be used as a public market and street vendors festival," he told.
Head of Kota Tua Implementation Unit (UPK), Gathut Dwi Hastoro stated this condition has an impact on the entire infrastructure of Kota Tua area, such as traffic, parking areas, public toilets, etc.
"Street vendors controlling needs a strong coordination from related units. Jakarta government should be able to act decisively to them in order to prevent illegal trade," he uttered.
