The project of Sunter River normalization as long as one kilometer on the east side of Jalan Yos Sudarso, North Jakarta, is damaging the park lane that passes Kelapa Gading Barat and Rawa Badak Selatan urban villages because of stepped on by passing heavy equipments used for the dredging. In addition, due to its position near the bank of Sunter River, the park is also damaged by project materials stored in the park.

Based on the report we received so far, more than 100 trees and plants are damaged

Based on beritajakarta.com observations, from the entire park, the most severe damage is found around 400 meters of park land within Kelapa Gading Barat area. At some points, nearly all trees and plants pruned.

Head of North Jakarta Parks Sub-Department, Muhammad Fajar Sauri, admitted that at least 100 trees and plants damaged because of being pruned and hit by project materials.

“ Based on the report we received so far, more than 100 trees and plants are damaged. But, the project is conducted in a bid to resolve flooding that relates to the lives of many ,” he stated, Sunday (6/8).

According to Sauri, his sub-department will rebuild the park after the normalization project finished.

“It can’t just replant (the trees and plants), considering the land is also messy. This is a multi-year project, thus the park’s rebuilding project would probably be conducted at least next year,” he uttered.

To rebuild parks, considering the high budget needed, Sauri told that he plans to cooperate with private party through corporate social responsibility (CSR) program.