TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta City Administration plans to restore Ciliwung River as in the Dutch period. Together with Ciliwung Condet community, the river is being designed as Biodiversity Park that can be used as tourist destination, conservation and ecosystem.

Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama admitted that he will restore Ciliwung river like in its heyday. One of the efforts is revive Villa Nova, Dutch Heritage Building in Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta.

“Ciliwung River has been messy since Ali Sadikin's tenure. Whereas there is a Villa Nova right there now, why don’t we take it back? The villa is neglected after the fire that broke out in 1985,” he said after greeted Ciliwung Condet Community at City Hall, Friday (7/24).

Ahok acknowledged that he is about to build biodiversity park along Ciliwung River merely in Jakarta territory. “We have running by issued the Gubernatorial Regulation (Pergub). Ciliwung had been abandoned since a long time ago, there is no more space, that’s why we have to relocate riverbank resident,” he explained.

He is optimistic by involving Army, and several communities who care about Ciliwung river. Hopefully, the park construction could be realized. Through the cooperation, the process of relocation is believed to be quickly implemented.

“There will be humanity aid (kerohiman) for those people who refuse to be relocated. If there are any ignorant people, we’ll urge them and they will receive humanity aid by 25 percent from tax value of the properties (NJOP),” he disclosed.

ANTARA