Surakarta revitalizes Sriwedari Park despite land owner's objection

Ganug Nugroho Adi
The Jakarta Post

Surakarta, Central Java / Thu, February 9, 2017 / 11:30 am

Surakarta revitalizes Sriwedari Park despite land owner's objection

Motorcyclists enter Sriwedari Park cultural and sport center in Surakarta, Central Java. (JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi)

Even though the Surakarta administration lost in the land dispute over Sriwedari Park cultural and sport center, it has still continued with its revitalization plan.

The administration has completed its master plan to turn Sriwedari into a green, public space.

The Surakarta Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency head, Endah Sitaresmi Suryandari, has taken the initial steps to pave the way for the revitalization, demolishing non-heritage buildings in the compound and completing the detailed engineering design.

For the revitalization, said Endah, all non-heritage buildings would be demolished, while heritage buildings would be maintained. Among the heritage buildings are Radya Pustaka Museum, Sriwedari Stadium, Segaran Park and Ronggowarsito Statue.

“The new concept for Sriwedari has fewer buildings because it will be a green space, a public space. The one new building is the Great Mosque,” Endah said.

Surakarta mayor FX Hadi “Rudy” Rudyatmo said the Great Mosque would not be constructed on disputed land but on land to which the administration held the concession right.

The administration is in dispute with the Sriwedari heir, KRT Wirjodiningrat, who opposes the plan.

“The revitalization plan breaks the law,” Wirjodiningrat’s lawyer, Anwar Rahman, said.

The case was taken to the Supreme Court and the administration filed a case review, but the court rejected the petition. Thus, Wirjodiningrat has been declared the rightful owner of the land.

“Whose land is is? They have no rights,” the lawyer said.

Anwar said his client was waiting for a letter from the court to take over the land. (evi)

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