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Kemang sidewalk makeover project stumbles over protests
People and business owners who are to lose portions of their property have refused to make way for the development until they receive fair compensation from the government.
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Employees of the Jakarta Binar Marga Road Agency renovate sidewalks in the Kemang area of South Jakarta on July 3. (Antara/Indrianto Eko)
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dispute over land compensation is stalling a sidewalk renovation project that aims to turn the bustling Kemang area into world-class pedestrian-friendly tourist quarters in South Jakarta.
People and business owners who are to lose portions of their property have refused to make way for the development until they receive fair compensation from the government.
The demand was raised on Tuesday when 128 residents met with representatives of the city administration, the Bina Marga road agency and the Transportation Agency in an attempt to break the impasse.
“I can’t believe that portions of our land will be acquired for a government project without compensation,” said a resident, Heru Suherman as reported by kompas.com on Tuesday.
“The law requires you to compensate us for the land you’ll use.”
The citizens were referring to the 2012 law on land procurement for public projects. Alternative types of compensation include money, replacement land, substitute houses, or other forms of mutually agreed-upon recompense.
Bina Marga head Hari Nugroho said almost all of the affected residents have agreed to sign the current terms of the contractual agreement (PKS). However, the bilateral agreement of the PKS was being held up by hotel, restaurant and café owners who weren't satisfied with the terms and demanded more of a reimbursement.
