Evictees offered apartments

Agnes S. Jayakarna ,  THE JAKARTA POST ,  SURABAYA   |  Mon, 06/08/2009 11:10 AM  |  The Archipelago

The Surabaya municipal administration is encouraging residents who were evicted from their homes along the banks of the Kalimas river to move into subsidized flats built by the administration.

The administration recently built the subsidized flats, including those in Wonorejo Kenjeran, and Tamahmerah, to accommodate the city's poor as well as the evictees, who recently had been evicted from Jagir, Wonokromo.

The municipality said that it would gradually complete installing facilities in the flats.

The head of the Surabaya City Development Planning Board (Bappeko), Tri Rismaharini, said on Friday there are enough flats to accommodate the evictees as well as other poor people who want to live there.

Risma said the administration plans to build three other subsidized apartment blocks next year. One will be in Babat Jerawat sub-district, Pakal district; the two others will be in Sememi sub-district, Benowo district.

Head of the Surabaya Building and Land Management department, Djumadi, said the municipality had allocated funds from the 2009 revised regional budget to build the three blocks of flats.

Technically, Djumadi said, the East Java provincial administration will build the flats in coordination with the municipality and related departments.

Even though the three blocks of flats will not be built until next year, the municipality will continue to evict residents living along the banks of Kalimas river.

However, only a small number of evictees are willing to live in subsidized flats. Many of them are waiting for clear regulations on rent and ownership to be made regarding the flats.

Poor infrastructure in the area, including the limited availability of clean water and electricity, has deterred many from moving in to the flats. Furthermore, the location of the building is far for the city center and availability of public transportation in limited.

"Our children still need education. Their schools are located near our previous houses. This condition also has prevented us from moving far away from here," said Ening, a mother of two.

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