TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said his administration was currently mapping empty, abandoned lands in the city’s protocol roads. The mapping was carried out by using drones.

“We will later possess data on how many empty lands in the capital’s main roads. The city has many protocol streets but we don’t have precise data yet,” said Anies in National Monument or Monas, Thursday, April 25.

The data collection was commenced after Anies issued a policy concerning the two-fold hike of land and building tax (PBB) for vacant, unused lands. Meanwhile, lands used as green open space (RTH) that accessible for the public would obtain tax discount up to 50 percent.

Anies added the tax hike for abandoned areas was not merely aimed at providing more public spaces in the capital city yet to prevent it from being wild shrubs that potentially cause various disease. “So it will be a useful area, instead of places for wild bushes or even animals,” he explained.

The regulation was issued on Gubernatorial Decree (Pergub) No. 42 of 2019 dated April 12, 2019. The protocol roads listed in the policy include M.H. Thamrin, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said, Jalan Jenderal Gatot Subroto, and Jalan M.T. Haryono.

Anies Baswedan further reiterated the city administration made savings with this regulation as his side usually spent budget to purchase land to designate green spaces. “While in fact, we don’t have to buy lands, but offering such discount,” he concluded.

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH