Locals Protest, Ciliwung's Waterway Project Stagnated

The waterway construction as long as 1.27 kilometers that spends Rp 493 billion in Ciliwung River targeted to be completed in February 2015, threatened to be delayed. This is because various constraints found in the field, like land acquisition. Nevertheless, the target is deemed able to be achieved.

Locals are strongly refusing the land acquisition due to small compensation

Chairman of RW 04 Bidara Cina, Galuh Radiyah (35) said around 200-300 households will be affected by land acquisition for installing an inlet channel (the water entrance from Ciliwung-KBT). They are located at RT 02, 04, 07, 09 and 10. Yet the majority of people refuse it due to they worried the government will provide small compensation.

"Locals are strongly refusing the land acquisition due to small compensation," he expressed, Thursday (6/5).

Ciliwung River Waterway Construction Project Complained by Residents

Meanwhile, Chairman of RW 14 Bidara Cina, Budi Ahdiyat disclosed around 50 households will be affected by land acquisition, precisely at RT 04, 05, and 07. Citizens living in RW 14 agreed with the waterway project in the Ciliwung River-KBT as long as there is agreement in compensation payment. About two months ago, socialization was already conducted at the office of Cipinang Cempedak Urban Village, but until now there has been no further information.

While Chairman of RW 05 Bidara Cina, Sudarno added the land acquisition will also have an impact on 100 households at RT 06. It is predicted about 2,500-3,000 square meters will be acquired.

"At this time, the information is still blur because there has been no another socialization. The land inventory process has not been finished 100 percent. We also have not received further information from the Building Control team," he told.

East Jakarta Building Control Team Head, Arifin expressed that land acquisition stage still needs a long time. He assessed, locals people are too quick to reject the plan due to small compensation. Thus far his side has just started the stage of land inventory and then continued with barrier installation in a bid to find out the wet and dry traces. Even, the field map conducted by the National Land Agency (BPN) has not been set.

"Why did people have taken the decision too quickly? We have not talked about compensation, price, and its mechanism is still under process. So far, we just worked on the inventory stage," he expressed.

Regarding compensation, he added, is the authority of appraisal team. The appraisal team is an independent agency and not in favor of the party. If people still refuse, his side will bring the case to the court on consignment.

As known, the waterway project has been ongoing since one month ago. PT Wika as new contractor has completed some projects, like relocating utility network throughout the land affected by the project, followed by drilling arriving shaft from the outlet and inlet, located on Jalan Otista III Cipinang Cempedak, Jatinegara, East Jakarta. It is targeted for completion in the upcoming August.