Kampung Pulo, a densely populated neighborhood in East Jakarta located near the banks of the Ciliwung River, is filled with illegally built homes and is extremely prone to heavy flooding during the rainy season.
Many people consider that area unlivable, including the Jakarta Government. They are aiming to move out all 900 or so families living in Kampung Pulo and get them into rusunawa (low-cost government subsidized apartment towers).
“Currently only about 60 families [from Kampung Pulo] out of a total of 900 families have been moved into the West Jatinegara Rusunawa. “Currently only 60 families out of a total of 900 families that have moved into Rusunawa Jatinegara West. Meanwhile we have conducting a drawing to disburse 520 units of public housing to 420 households and 100 families,” said Ika Lestari Adji, the head of Jakarta’s Department of Housing, on Monday as quoted by Beritajakarta.
According to Ika, the West Jatinegara Rusunawa has not yet been inaugurated by Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama but, due to the urgent need, affected resident are already moving into the apartment towers.
“Rusunawa Jatinegara will be officially opened once all residents have moved in,” Ika sid.
Ika said that the government was also urgently working to building more rusunawa in the added, to meet the residential needs of citizens affected by the relocation of the river bank, the city government is also working with a number of developers in the construction of towers. Rusunawa including in the area of Rawa Bebek in Daan Mogot, West Jakarta and Muara Angke, North Jakarta.
Many resident of Kampung Pulo are not happy about being forced to uproot from their homes and have lodged a lawsuit with the State Administrative Court (PTUN) arguing that their expulsion from the land is illegal because it violates due process.
Ahok seemed unphased by the lawsuit, saying, “It’s okay if people want accountability, go ahead. It’s okay if people want to take it to the administrative court, it is also not a problem. Everyone has their rights. You’ll see what the process is like.”
