Street Vendors Who Hang Around Al Akbar Mosque Surabaya Disturb Toll Road Users

Chairperson of Commission A for the Government of the Surabaya DPRD Pertiwi Ayu Krishna (Photo via Antara)

JAKARTA - Residents have complained about the presence of street vendors (PKL) in the Al Akbar Mosque area of Surabaya, East Java, which are considered to interfere with access to toll roads.

"We have received complaints from public road users who feel disturbed in the midst of the density of traders. So those who are in a hurry to go to the hospital via the toll road or who want to have business via the toll road will find it difficult," said Head of Commission A for Government of the Surabaya DPRD, Pertiwi Ayu Krishna. in Surabaya, Tuesday, April 26, quoted from Antara.

Commission A has held a hearing meeting inviting a number of parties. The meeting was attended by the Department of Cooperatives and MSMEs, the Department of Public Housing and Settlement Areas and Land, the Department of Water Resources and Highways, Satpol PP, Al Akbar Mosque Manager, four PKL coordinators at Al Akbar Mosque, Gayungan District and Jambangan Village.

The Golkar Party politician added that the presence of street vendors at Al Akbar Mosque is not managed by the mosque, but by a number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

"There are four NGO groups that manage there. In the east, north, west, and the field. So at this meeting we invite the coordinators of the management," he said.

According to him, from the hearing it was agreed that the presence of street vendors in the Al Akbar Mosque would be immediately brought under control and tidied up.

"So that it doesn't fall apart again, so that the beauty of the Al Akbar Mosque can be enjoyed by the community by being arranged more neatly," he said.

He said that previously a PKL coordinator had opposed the arrangement of street vendors in the Al Akbar Mosque area for various reasons, including because they had been there for a long time.

In fact, he continued, the Surabaya City Government has provided land on the north side of the Al Akbar Mosque for the relocation of street vendors. The relocation is scheduled for May 16, 2022.

"So we're not eliminating these street vendors. Of course, the priority is those with ID cards from Surabaya and local residents. Such as Jambangan residents and Pagesangan residents, to improve their economy," he said.

For that, he said, Commission A asked the management of street vendors to also involve the managers of the Al Akbar Mosque because the land used by street vendors has a certificate of building use rights (SHGB) on top of land management rights (HPL).

"This means that the SHGB is at the Al Akbar Mosque so that the Al Akbar Mosque must be involved," said Pertiwi Ayu Krishna.