Thousands of residents who live along the bank of Semongol River, Tegal Alur Urban Village, Kalideres Sub-District, West Jakarta, are restless because their houses which have been inhabited for tens of years are affected by the river normalization project. As a matter of fact, West Jakarta Administration gives them time for a month to demolish their buildings themselves.

Until now, I’m still waiting for instruction from West Jakarta Administration to issue land clearing warrant

Nurmala (47), resident of RT 01/11 Tegal Alur, admitted that local urban village and sub-district party have socialized about the demolition plan. She and other residents are actually do not mind with such plan, but they are questioning about the compensation money and relocation place from the government which still unclear until now.

“We are willing to move from here (Semongol riverbank), but why is it until now there is still no clarity on (residents’) relocation to flat or compensation money?” she wondered, Sunday (9/28).

Meanwhile, Head of Tegal Alur Urban Village, Anik Sulastri, stated there are 345 houses spread in five RWs that are going to be demolished. From that amount, 76 buildings have Land Ownership Title (SHM).

“Until now, I’m still waiting for instruction from West Jakarta Administration to issue land clearing warrant,” she told.

Because of that, Sulastri cannot confirm yet when the demolition will be conducted. However, her ranks have socialized the residents about Semongol River normalization and inspection road construction projects which currently being done vigorously by Jakarta Provincial Government.

For information, Semongol River now is only as wide as 10 meters. Through the normalization project, the river will be widened to 30 meters. In addition, inspection roads will also be built on both sides of the river for as wide as 15 meters.