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Ahok eyes bringing back "Old Town" Jakarta on cleared Pasar Ikan area
The Jakarta administration is on its way to revive the “Old Town” of Jakarta in the Pasar Ikan area, North Jakarta – whose residents have been recently evicted, by involving several archaeological experts and related agencies in the planned revitalization.
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Jakarta administration officials discover, what they believe to be, a wall of a building dating back to the 16th century during the Dutch colonial era in the cleared area of Pasar Ikan in North Jakarta. The city administration hopes to restore the building as part of its revitalization plan of Jakarta's Old Town. (thejakartapost.com/Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)
T
he Jakarta administration is on its way to revive the “old town” of Jakarta in the Pasar Ikan area, North Jakarta – whose residents have been recently evicted, by involving several archaeological experts and related agencies in the planned revitalization.
The administration has discovered a wall that was part of structre built during the Dutch colonial era in Pasar Ikan. The historic wall, covered in mud, was found during excavation by the City Water Management Agency, while installing sheet piles in the river and shore areas for flood prevention.
The remnants of the historic building was submerged two meters under the river’s surface, Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama said on Thursday.
"If it is possible, we want to restore the building to its original form, even if means construction has to occur underwater,” Ahok told journalists at City hall on Thursday.
A bridge also discovered by the administration under the river near Pasar Ikan would be restored as well.
The city has involved several archaeologists from the University of Indonesia to help revive the concept of Jakarta’s Old Town, as well as the recently discovered structures.
Separately, Water Management Agency head Teguh Hendrawan believes the wall was part of a fortress in North Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century. In order to protect the believed-to-be historic building, the city had asked police to tape off the surrounding area of the wall, Teguh said.
Excavators will, therefore, be aware of the site and should be able to work around it.
To prevent any further damages, Ahok had warned field officers to be careful when working in the area following several historic objects were damaged during the eviction.
Previously, head of the Marine Museum Husnizon Nizar said the administration had planned to revive the original function of Pasar Ikan as a fish market with its original hexagonal shape, free from residential areas.
City-owned market operator PD Pasar Jaya is currently collecting data of the fish vendors selling in nearby markets. After the expected construction is completed, Pasar Jaya would invite vendors to sell in the revitalized market.
The revitalization, which will be conducted under the supervision of Jakarta's Tourism and Cultural Office, aims to showcase the area as a future marine-based tourism spot.
Moreover, the administration also plans to relocate the hundreds of Pasar Ikan evictees, who are currently still occupying the area despite having their homes torn down by the city last month, Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat said.
The residents have been staying in tents on the ruins of their homes donated by Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto.
The city had provided apartment units for the evictees in Rawa Bebek, East Jakarta, which they refused to move to because of the distance from their livelihoods in North Jakarta.
The relocation would help the city administration speed up the sheet pile installation and dam construction in the area, Djarot said. (rin)
