Imam Hamdi, Jakarta – Jakarta provincial administration planned to clear a total of 118 plots of land located in the banks of Ciliwung River this year. The lands to be acquired are spread in districts of Tanjung Barat, Pejaten Timur, Cililitan, and Bale Kembang.

"This year, the government has allocated a budget of Rp600 billion for the riverbanks and reservoirs clearance," said the city's water resources head Juaini Yusuf at the City Hall on Monday, January 6.

Juaini said after the land is cleared, the Public Works and Housing Ministry will resume the revitalization program of the river as it is the responsibility of the central government. "We are only obliged to acquire the land," he added.

Initially, Juaini went on, the city administration planned to clear the land in 2019. Yet it was canceled because of budget efficiency. Jakarta only earmarked Rp160 billion to free up land in the four villages last year.

Juaini added that the government was determined to carry out the naturalization of Ciliwung river in the four villages. "[However] if the NJOP (taxable value of the property) increases, we will review the budget," Juaini added, hoping the land acquisition would be carried out without disturbance and the payment could be completed this year.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1292043/jakarta-to-clear-118-plots-of-land-for-river-normalization