The Fate Of Monas Revitalization: The Work Has Been Postponed And There Is No Certainty When It Will Resume

JAKARTA - The Head of the Regional Management Unit (UPK) of the National Monument (Monas) Isa Sanuri explained that the current condition of the revitalization of Monas is currently stagnant.

Isa explained that there is no ongoing construction work at Monas because the DKI Provincial Government has shifted the revitalization budget (refocusing) for handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Currently, the revitalization cannot be carried out in its entirety because there is indeed a budget refocusing," said Isa to VOI, Monday, October 11.

Currently, the revitalization work that has been completed is only on the south side. At the southern plaza of Monas, DKI built an apple field with a concrete floor. Then, there is a pond that reflects the shadow of the Monas monument.

Meanwhile, work on the west, east and north sides have not yet been carried out. As for the west side, an MRT station will be built. Then, the east side is planned to be built by Lenggang Jakarta, which was previously on the south side. Then, the deer yard was placed to the north side adjacent to the aspiration plaza.

"The work that has been completed is only partially on the south side. The overall revitalization is in the area and interior," said Isa.

Then, when the revitalization will continue, Isa admitted that he did not know. This is because the revitalization of Monas is the work of the DKI Jakarta Cipta Karya, Spatial Planning and Land (Citata) Department.

"For more details, you can ask the Citata Service, the project belongs to them," he said.

VOI tried to contact the Head of DKI Citata Service Heru Hermawanto to ask about the continuation of the revitalization of Monas. However, until this news was written, Heru had not responded.

The problem with the revitalization of Monas

The issue of Monas revitalization was investigated when DKI was caught cutting down 191 trees on the south side in January 2020. The DKI Regional Representative Council (DPRD) was furious. Because the tree is a supporter of the green line.

The DPRD asked Anies to temporarily stop the revitalization of Monas. This is because, in fact, the construction was carried out without the approval of the Steering Committee for the Development of the Medan Merdeka Area. In Presidential Decree No. 25/1995, the Minister of State Secretary served as Chairman of the Steering Committee. Meanwhile, the governor serves as the Chairman of the Implementing Body.

Then, the revitalization of Monas was halted, while Anies discussed this issue with Minister of State Secretary Pratikno. Anies explained that the 191 trees that were cut down on the south side of Monas would be replaced three times.

A total of 191 trees that have been cut down will be replanted as many as 573 in the west, east, and IRTI and Lenggang Jakarta parking areas. Food stalls in Lenggang Jakarta will be moved to the east near Gambir Station. Beyond that, there are also 83 trees with a maximum height of 2 meters that have been moved to the west and east sides.

From there, the Steering Committee decided to allow Anies to continue the work. Until finally, the revitalization of Monas was again stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.