Antara 24 Feb 16;
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnomo extended his support to the Environment Ministrys plan to turn a golf course in Senayan, South Jakarta, into a city forest.
"I support the Environment Ministrys plan to change the Senayan golf course into a city forest since the area was indeed allocated for the purpose of having a green open space," he said at the City Hall on Tuesday.
Basuki, popularly called by his nickname Ahok, said that based on Jakartas spatial plan (RTRW), the golf course in Senayan was indeed allocated for a green open space (RTH).
Besides the golf course in Senayan, Ahok also proposed that another golf course in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, be turned into a city forest.
"We wish the golf course in Kemayoran is also changed into a city forest because its status was also a green area like the Senayan golf course," he said.
He said the permit for a golf course is actually similar to that meant for a public cemetery. The two are categorized as green areas but only with different concepts.
Ahok said Jakarta already had a number of city forests, such as in Srengseng Sawah and Pondok Labut, but these were poorly illuminated.
"We indeed had several city forests but will continue to procure land to be developed into city forests and gardens so that Jakarta becomes even greener," he said.
The popular governor is currently facing a challenge with regard to his decision to change the popular red light district Kalijodo into a city garden.(*)
