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Ombudsman calls for planning control in Kemang
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A band performs at a venue in the Kemang area in South Jakarta. (Courtesy of Prasvana/-)
T
he Indonesian Ombudsman’s Office has revealed that spatial planning has gone off the rails in Kemang, South Jakarta, and the Jakarta Administration must take action.
Kemang Raya and Kemang Selatan were originally designated as residential areas, however, currently 90 percent of the buildings were utilized as business premises, said Ombudsman Office member Ahmad Alamsyah Saragih during a hearing between the Ombudsman’s Office and the administration on Tuesday.
“We urge the administration to rectify this situation, whether by curbing the buildings or revising the city’s spatial planning regulations. If the administration fails to mitigate this matter, the misuse of space will also occur in other areas,” Alamsyah said at his office, adding that like Kemang the Tebet residential area, also in South Jakarta, was also inundated by business premises.
With a high population of foreign residents, businessmen are attracted to Kemang, with not only restaurants but also live-music venues causing traffic congestion and pollution in nearby residential areas, Alamsyah said.
Meanwhile, city development and environment official, Gamal Sinurat, said that according to the 2014 city spatial plan, Kemang residents had a right to utilize 50 percent of the buildings for business premises although they have to abide by the city’s regulations.
“The business premises should have space for pedestrians and a parking lot. They can conduct business there but they have to abide by our rules. We continue to coordinate with spatial development planning, regarding this matter,” Gamal said at the Ombudsman’s Office. (bbn)
