Illegal Buildings on Cempaka Putih Drainage Forcibly Demolished

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Central Jakarta Government demolished five illegal buildings in the form of kiosks and public toilets above the drainage channel of Jalan Cempaka Putih Tengah XXVI, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, January 28, 2020.

"These buildings are right above the channel. And the buildings are permanent without any space or distance (between the buildings) that would enable our officers to drain them. That's why residents have asked (the buildings) to be demolished and then be drained,” said local neighborhood chief, Marzuki, in the demolition site.

The illegal buildings were constructed permanently on the channel and have been clogging up the drainage system for 10 years, since its construction. As a result, floods occur in the area due to the obstruction of water flow.

The demolition was done by the Cempaka Putih District Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), with the assistance of the Central Jakarta Environmental Services Department, Central Jakarta Water Resources Office and State Electricity Firm, PLN.

“Earlier, the cable was disconnected by the PLN, while all the materials were disposed of by the Jakarta Central Environmental Agency,” said Chief of Cempaka Putih District Satpol PP, Aries Cahyadi.

After the demolition, officers were mobilized to drain the Cempaka Putih drainage channels that have been blocked off, according to local residents. "We have mobilized about 30 people and there are also three trucks," said deputy chief of Cempaka Putih District, Fadlan Zuhran.

ANTARA | DIO SUHENDA (Intern Translator)