The city administration aims to complete by the end of this year some of the payments for the acquisition of land for the construction of the East Flood Canal.

East Jakarta's land committee chairman Arifin said the administration had prepared Rp 177 billion (US$17 million) to pay for 370 plots of land.

"The land, which encompasses more than 70 hectares, is situated in nine of the 11 subdistricts affected by the project," he said at City Hall on Monday.

The nine subdistricts are Cipinang Muara Besar Selatan, Cipinang Muara, Duren Sawit, Malaka Jaya, Malaka Sari, Pondok Bambu, Pondok Kelapa, Pondok Kopi and Pulogebang.

"As of today, we have paid for 147 out of 517 plots of land in the nine subdistricts," he said.

He said the committee had recorded a total 808 plots of land, which encompassed more than 258 hectares.

The acquisition project would cost more than Rp 646 billion, he said.

He added the committee also set a target of completing payments for 157 plots in two other subdistricts, Ujung Menteng and Cakung Timur, by the end of the year.

"But we have not yet allocated the budget for those two regions," Arifin said.

The committee is consigning any disputes over land to the East Jakarta Court for resolution.

He said there were 291 plots of land under dispute, but the land committee had made a deal to pay for 22 of those plots (more than 27 hectares) while the remaining 269 plots (160 hectares) were still in the arbitration process.

"We hope the arbitration of the other plots can be settled immediately so we can complete the payment by the end of this year.

"Soon after the land acquisition is completed, we hope we can start the East Flood Canal project next year.

"Residents of course want high prices for the land, but there is an agrarian regulation with stipulations about land acquisition," Arifin said.

The administration has high hopes the East Flood Canal will be the primary flood control mechanism for East and North Jakarta.

The 23.5-kilometer East Flood Canal will stretch across 11 subdistricts in East Jakarta and two subdistricts in North Jakarta.

Land acquisition for the Rp 1.25 trillion project, however, has hit a snag because of unclear land ownership, as some residents were without certificates.

The committee started holding acquisition sessions in September.

After receiving the payment, landowners usually have 14 days to dismantle their homes and leave the land.

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