Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Central Jakarta Municipality administration will conduct the planting of some 150 thousand plants along main roadsides and a graveyard under its initiative to increase the aesthetic appeal of the city this year.
The plants will be planted at the Petamburan Public Cemetery and along the roadsides of Abdul Muis, Jln. H. Fachrudin, Letjen Suprapto, and Salemba-Kramat streets, Head of the Central Jakarta Green Lane and Cemetery Section Budi Hidayat noted here on Monday.
Bougainvillea, Ashoka, Costus, Sambang Virgin, Aralia, and ornamental banana are among those to be planted.
"The ornamental plants are indeed for roadside planting and help to neutralize pollutants and emission gases," Hidayat told Antara.
A budget amounting Rp5 billion has been allocated for planting the 150 thousand plants this year, according to him.
The Central Jakarta City Parks and Forestry Office has until now planted 50 thousand plants along Fachrudin and Jalan Cideng roadsides located in front of the Tanah Abang Tasik Market.
At least 28 task forces will be involved in the tree planting program.
"This park arrangement is a continuation of last year's program implemented along the Cikini roadside and Karet Bivak public cemetery," he remarked.
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Meanwhile, the Jakarta authorities reopened four parks in Central Jakarta to the public, albeit enforcing the Micro-Scale Activity Restriction (PPKM) amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The parks were reopened since Saturday (March 13) under the supervision of several officers to ensure that visitors comply with the health protocols.
"The city parks are opened but with a maximum capacity of 50 percent. Security guards are also readied to oversee the implementation of health protocols in line with the current regulations," Head of the Central Jakarta Urban Forests and Parks Mila Ananda stated here on Saturday.
The four parks are the Lapangan Banteng Park located near the Pasar Baru area, Sumenep Promade Park situated in proximity to the HI Roundabout, the disability-friendly Setara Tanamur Park in East Tanah Abang, and the Slipi Fly Over (FO) Park designed for skateboarding enthusiasts.
Apart from placing a cap on the number of visitors and setting up surveillance, facilities for washing hands are also offered to enable residents to apply the 3M health protocols.
Ananda emphasized that it was compulsory for visitors at the park to wear face masks.
"We are keen to provide safe and comfortable green open spaces by cleaning and providing facilities at the parks. However, residents are also expected to care for their own health by wearing masks or carrying hand sanitizers for self-protection," she explained.
The opening of other parks in the capital city is also likely to follow suit.
"We will see the results of the evaluation first. If it turns out that the people can comply with the implementation of health protocols and the results are good, then of course, we will open other parks gradually," she affirmed.
Visitors at the parks should also ensure that their body temperature is below 37.5 degrees Celsius, follow the path marked in the parks, maintain a safe required distance, and avoid crowding.
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