BOGOR: The Bogor regency administration plans to remove over a thousand illegal villas and buildings in water catchment areas in Puncak, an official says
BOGOR: The Bogor regency administration plans to remove over a thousand illegal villas and buildings in water catchment areas in Puncak, an official says.
On Thursday, Bogor administration spokesperson Very Adnan said the administration was determined to clear the villas.
"We cannot tell you when because we don't want thugs there to react and hamper our measures," he told Antara news agency.
He said past experience had taught the administration that when thugs got hold of information, they guarded the villas.
"I will tell you when the bulldozers are already in front of the villas."
Head of the Bogor Buildings and Housing Monitoring Agency, Mas'an Djajuli, said the measure was being taken due to the alarming rate of the development on supposedly protected land.
In January, State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar visited the area and said development on protected land must stop. He said unchecked development could worsen floods and increased the risk of landslides.
According to a 1999 presidential decree, Puncak is a designated water catchment area.
Government reports show that between 1972 and 2005, 30.36 percent of the protected land was lost to construction. From the 5,000 buildings there, 1,500 do not reportedly have building permits. - JP
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