Around 13,500 square meters or 1.35 hectares land area cleared for the expansion of the Pondok Ranggon Public Cemetery (TPU) for COVID-19 victims burial area. In the future, the land can accommodate more than 2,000 graves.

COVID-19 victims burial area at TPU Pondok Ranggon will be optimized by expanding the area

"COVID-19 victims burial area at TPU Pondok Ranggon will be optimized by expanding the area by about 1 hectare that can accommodate 2,000 graves," explained Ivan Murcahyo, Head of Data Center and Information of Jakarta Park and Urban Forest Sub-agency, on Sunday (9/13).

Meanwhile, land clearing at TPU Tegal Alur has been carried out in an area of 2 hectares and capacity of 2,800 graves.

"Additional burial area at TPU Tegal Alur has been cleared and is wider than the one at TPU Pondok Ranggon," he added.

He stated, there is no limitation in the burial of COVID-19 body at TPU Pondok Ranggon and TPU Tegal Alur, as it has been widely reported.

"Actually we don't experience limitations of the burial grounds, but some areas haven't been cleared and the block (blad) has not been formed. When preparing the cemetery, we also need to prepare other supporting infrastructure well, such as roads that separate between units, block, et cetera," he conveyed.

According to him, his side has prepared several options for COVID-19 burial locations from the early period of pandemic, apart from TPU Pondok Ranggon and TPU Tegal Alur.

"Currently, we are preparing land in other locations that can be alternative if the need of COVID-19 burial area continues to increase. All teams are on the move, starting from land clearing, simulating routes and minimizing potential of resistance," he asserted.