The city administration has assured observers that it will keep the public beach in Marunda, North Jakarta, despite its plan to develop the northern industrial area of Jakarta into a special economic zone (SEZ).
Wiriyatmoko, head of the city spatial planning agency, said Wednesday the upcoming zone would not disturb the existing public beach.
"On many occasions, I've said that there would be an allocation *of space * for the public beach. That's my promise," he said at City Hall.
"The special economic zone is not an exclusive area. It is open to the public ... and we aim to maintain the beach," said Wiriyatmoko.
He said that the zone would be connected with the East Flood Canal to make the area accessible.
"There will be a road connecting the canal ... with the zone ... the canal has been included in the special economic zone concept," he said.
Wiriyatmoko was speaking after attending a discussion about the bill on the special economic zone.
The administration wants the labor-intensive Marunda industrial area to be a high-tech, high-know-how and high-value-added center.
The area is expected to not only become a center for manufacturing industries, but also a laboratory and study center for university students who want to use SEZ facilities to develop new technology.
The zone will have an international port connecting with other means of transportation, such as trains, toll roads and arterial roads, improving access to other industrial areas such as Jababeka in Bekasi.
The bill on the SEZ is expected to be ready by September or October so the project can start next year.
Meanwhile, the Marunda Beach, which stretches about 1.7 kilometers, is one of few public beaches left in the capital. However, it is not developed and has been neglected.
Residents of the coastal area are urging the administration to develop the poorly maintained beach into a high-quality tourism destination to boost the local economy.
The administration itself has repeatedly promised to develop the beach, but so far, it has not yet implemented these plans.
- JP/Triwik Kurniasari
