Landowners Rejects Low Compensation for Kamal-Teluk Naga-Rajeg Toll Road Project, Not Enough for Day to Day Living Cost

From the left of the Banten Deputy Province, Nugroho, staff of the Public Appraisal Service Office (KJPP), Deputy Office of ATR/BPR Tangerang Regency, Didi, Sub-district Head of Sukadiri Ahmad Hafid, Head of Pekayon Suaryo Village, Deputy Ministry of Public Works, Najih. (IST)

TANGERANG – Residents of Pekayon Village, Sukadiri District, Tangerang, whose land was affected by the Kamal – Teluk Naga – Rajeg (Kataraja) toll road project, rejected the compensation value set by the Public Appraisal Services Office (KJPP). The landowners considered the compensation value to be too low and insufficient to replace their livelihoods. They conveyed this in the Deliberation on the Determination of the Form of Compensation held at the Pekayon Village Office on Wednesday, November 13.

“This impoverishes the people, not makes them prosperous. Many residents have lost their source of income because their land has been converted into a toll road with low compensation,” said M. Suryadinata, one of the affected landowners, during the deliberation.

The event was also attended by Sukadiri Sub-district Head Ahmad Hafid, Pekayon Village Head Suaryo, representatives of the Ministry of Public Works, KJPP staff, and 22 landowners or family representatives whose land was affected by the Kataraja toll project.

Not Just Compensation

According to Suryadinata, his land was valued at only IDR 118,000 per square meter. This value, he said, was unreasonable considering the location of Pekayon Village which is quite close to Jakarta and Soekarno-Hatta Airport. He even compared it to the price of land in Rumpin, Bogor, which reached IDR 500,000 per square meter, even though it is further from Jakarta.

In addition to Suryadinata, all other landowners also rejected the compensation value set by KJPP. They signed the rejection form provided in Pekayon Village as a form of objection to the determination.

Najih, a representative from the Ministry of Public Works, explained that according to Law No. 2 of 2012 concerning Land Acquisition for Development in the Public Interest, the price set by KJPP is final and non-negotiable. However, people who object have the right to file a lawsuit with the Tangerang District Court. "Later, KJPP will explain the basis for its calculations in court," said Najih.

Compensation Too Low

Oman, a representative of Marsiah's family, assessed that the compensation value did not improve the welfare of the people, but instead added to their burden of life. Several other landowners expressed their surprise at the low determination of the compensation value. Sukadiri Sub-district Head Ahmad Hafid hopes that his residents will receive proper “compensation,” not just “compensation,” but admits that currently, the village is no longer involved in determining the land compensation value.

Landowners in Pekayon Village emphasized that they do not reject the Kataraja toll road project because they realize the importance of infrastructure development. However, they hope that the land compensation value can be more reasonable and balanced with the potential losses they experience. Development projects for the public interest should consider the welfare of the affected community so as not to sacrifice their rights.