Ask Pertamina Plumpang Depot To Be Moved, Gerindra: Don't Displace Its Citizens

Residents' settlements were burned to the ground by the Pertamina Plumpang Depot fire on Friday night March 3. (Between-M Risyal Hidayat)

JAKARTA - Gerindra faction member of the DKI Jakarta DPRD S. Andyka asked the government not to relocate residential areas around the Pertamina Plumpang Depot or to be precise in the Tanah Merah area, North Jakarta.

This is in response to the SOE Ministry's plan to build a buffer zone around the Plumpang Depo. If the buffer zone is built, residents living around the fuel oil storage (BBM) will automatically be relocated.

"I prefer to agree that the depot was moved. But, don't let the residents be evicted, don't let the residents be moved, but the environment can be arranged for the better," Andyka told reporters, Thursday, March 9.

Moreover, according to Andyka, there are provisions that state that residents can take care of the land ownership certification process if they have lived in the location they have lived in for more than 20 years.

However, Andyka also emphasized that there needs to be clarity regarding the status of land in the Pertamina Plumpang Depot and the Tanah Merah area. Given, currently the land is still in the process of dispute between residents and Pertamina.

"If you have lived for 20 years in a row, for certification or granting rights, that is something normal and reasonable. If the land belongs to the government, yes. But if the land has and there is someone else's certificate, can it be given? You can't," explained Andyka.

This relocation plan is related to President Joko Widodo's order to his staff to find a solution to the Pertamina Plumpang depot fire incident that spread to residential areas in Tanah Merah Bawah.

Jokowi asked the Ministry of SOEs and the DKI Provincial Government to decide one of the two transfer options, namely to relocate residents or move the Pertamina Plumpang depot to another place.

SOE Minister Erick Thohir immediately held a follow-up meeting on Monday, March 6 yesterday. As a result, the government will move the fuel depot to PT Pelindo's land.

However, Erick also plans to make a buffer zone or buffer zone 50 meters wide around the Pertamina fuel terminal in Plumpang. Because, according to Erick, moving the fuel depot takes a long time.

Therefore, Heru Budi submitted the decision to relocate residents in Tanah Merah to Erick Thohir. What is clear is that the DKI Provincial Government is ready to carry out the relocation process if it has been decided.

"The concept is from the Ministry of SOEs, there is a buffer zone. It has been offered (relocation option). Go ahead for Pertamina," said Heru.