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Doc: Indian Embassy
Indian Embassy Clarify Rumor In Social Media About 18-Story Building
Monday, 25 Nov 2024
The construction of the Indian Embassy building on HR Rasuna Said Street in Kuningan, Setiabudi, South Jakarta has caught the attention of netizens on social media. They are questioning the unique design of the embassy, especially since an 18-story apartment will be built above it.
Building an 18-story apartment on top of an embassy is seen as unusual. No other embassy in Jakarta has an apartment built above it, let alone one that tall.
As a result, netizens are curious about whether the Indian Embassy project complies with city planning regulations and local government permits. They also suspect the purpose of the apartment at the embassy location.
“Have you heard about the Indian Embassy project on a 6,916 square meter plot in Kuningan, Setiabudi, South Jakarta? It’s strange because there’s an 18-story apartment towering above it,” said Arrus, a netizen, in a TikTok post under the account @souraja.muda last weekend.
In the video titled “Community Rejects Indian Embassy Construction: There’s an Apartment in the 18-Story Building,” the netizen shared information from media clippings. The clippings revealed that the embassy, built by the state-owned company Waskita Karya, is currently halted due to a lawsuit from affected local residents.
The content quickly went viral, receiving significant public response. Within just one day of being uploaded to TikTok, it garnered 282,600 views, 15,900 likes, 1,678 saves, and was shared 738 times.
India's embassy has responded to a viral video on social media. They clarified to the media that the information circulating is unfounded. The embassy suspects that this misinformation is part of a coordinated effort to mislead the public and damage their reputation.
"This claim is completely baseless and is being spread by individuals with hidden motives," the embassy stated in a written statement on Monday (November 25, 2024).
The embassy provided explanations regarding several issues related to the matter. First, concerning the housing within the embassy complex, they stated that the apartments are exclusively for embassy staff.
"This housing is not for commercial use, and no outsiders are allowed in the secure embassy area, in line with international diplomatic norms," they emphasized. Globally, embassy staff reside in the embassy complex for security and logistical reasons. This practice aligns with arrangements made by many other embassies in Jakarta and worldwide.
Thirdly, regarding reciprocity with the Indonesian embassy in New Delhi, the Indonesian embassy also has designated housing for its staff within its embassy complex.
The land provided by the Indian Government in New Delhi is quite spacious, allowing for the construction of low-rise buildings, unlike the limited space in Jakarta, he added.
Fourth, regarding the land constraints in Jakarta, the only viable solution is to build vertically with 18 floors to meet the operational needs of the embassy and staff housing.
Fifth, the embassy building is surrounded by tall structures. This can be confirmed by a simple visit to the site or by using tools like Google Maps. The new building fits well with the character of the surrounding area.
Lastly, concerning legal compliance, the Indian embassy has stated that it has obtained all necessary legal permits for the construction of the building. It emphasized that opposing claims are completely incorrect.
"Opposing claims are entirely false and seem to be part of an opportunistic agenda to mislead the public and tarnish the strong bilateral relationship between India and Indonesia. They also question the Indian Government's sovereign right to grant the embassy the necessary permissions to build according to its needs," wrote the Indian embassy.
Due to this situation, the Indian Embassy is urging the public to verify facts before making conclusions or spreading false information that could unintentionally harm the long-standing friendly relations between India and Indonesia.
"The two countries have shared a historical, cultural, trade, economic, and developmental partnership for centuries, which should not be damaged by unfounded accusations," it stated.
For your information, according to detikcom, plans for a new Indian Embassy building have been in discussion since 2023. This 18-story project is being constructed by PT Waskita Karya (Persero).
The building is located in Kuningan Timur, South Jakarta, with a contract value of IDR 334 billion. The completion of the Indian Embassy building is expected to take 27 months.
The embassy and its area are being built on a land area of 6,916 m2, with a total project area of 25,006 m2. This includes a 4-story Main Chancery building, an ASEAN Office, and a Consular area of 4,379 m2, a 4-story Jawaharlal Nehru Indian Culture Centre (JNICC) of 3,084 m2, and an 18-story building for Residences and Consular services of 16,183 m2. (ridwan@insightinnews.com)
