As many as 33 buildings stood atop water channel on Jalan Raya Bekasi, Pegangsaan Dua Urban Village, Kelapa Gading Sub-District, North Jakarta, are demolished by the ranks of Kelapa Gading Sub-District, Wednesday (8/20).

We’ve warned the building owners for several times and socialized them that their buildings were violating Bylaw No. 8/2007 on Public Order. But since our warnings were ignored, we had to demolish their buildings today

The buildings demolished were previously used as car wash, tire patch stall, and homes. The demolition, which carried out at 11 AM until 1 PM, went smooth without resistance from the building owners.

Head of Pegangsaan Dua Urban Village, Didit Mulyadi, said those buildings have existed since 20 years ago. Because of their existence, the water channel below them could not accommodate water optimally. As a result, surrounding environment became often inundated whenever rain pours.

“We’ve warned the building owners for several times and socialized them that their buildings were violating Bylaw No. 8/2007 on Public Order. But since our warnings were ignored, we had to demolish their buildings today,” he stated.

According to Head of Kelapa Gading Sub-District, Ahmad Ya’ala, the existence of those buildings was recently complained by the locals who assessed the water channel from RW 05 towards Pegangsaan Dua connecting channel disturbed.

“Some of them (building owners) understood and willing to demolish their buildings themselves. They had been here for 20 years, so there is no reason to reject (the demolition),” he uttered.

Meanwhile, Sitorus (45), can only resign seeing his building demolished by the officers. Now, he plans to look for another location to re-open his tire patch business which has been run since 20 years ago.

“What else can I do, I have to move. I want to look for another location,” he told.