Govt finalizing post-tsunami reconstruction plan<\/p>\n
Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government hopes to finish within a week its final draft of
\nthe reconstruction blueprint for the tsunami-stricken Nanggroe
\nAceh Darussalam province, before discussing it further with the
\nHouse of Representatives, a senior economics minister said.<\/p>\n
State Minister for National Development Planning Sri Mulyani
\nIndrawati said on Monday that the government still needed to
\nconsider several aspects of the blueprint, particularly in
\ndetermining its legal basis, fine tuning spatial planning in the
\nareas concerned, and deciding which infrastructure projects in
\nthe blueprint would be prioritized.<\/p>\n
Sri Mulyani was supposed to hold a consultative meeting with
\nthe House of Representatives' finance commission to present the
\ngovernment's final draft of the blueprint.<\/p>\n
"The Commission has, however, decided to adjourn the meeting
\nto give us more time in preparing the final draft," she said.<\/p>\n
The government plans to begin the reconstruction phase in Aceh
\nand parts of North Sumatra on March 26. The cost is expected to
\nreach up to Rp 10 trillion for this year alone, and Rp 45
\ntrillion (US$4.8 billion) over the next five years.<\/p>\n
On the legal aspects of the blueprint, Sri Mulyani said the
\ngovernment was still deciding on whether the blueprint would be
\nissued in the form of a Presidential Decree or a Government
\nRegulation in Lieu of Law (Perpu), as previously suggested.<\/p>\n
"This is crucial for providing a specific legal basis during the
\nimplementation stage," she said. "The final decision on the
\nmatter will, however, be consulted with the House when we present
\nthe final draft of the blueprint to them."<\/p>\n
The government had planned to set up a special Aceh Authority
\n(BOA) to manage and carry out the reconstruction phase.<\/p>\n
The House' approval for the blueprint, Sri added, was also
\nimportant as the reconstruction phase would be financed out of
\nthe state budget.<\/p>\n
"Donor funds in grants and soft loans, and their disbursement,
\nwill mean a revision of the budget revenue and expenditure
\naccounts, which will also need the House's approval," she said.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, the government has commenced work on minor
\ninfrastructure projects, including constructing barracks for the
\ndisplaced, repairing lightly damaged roads, and reestablishing
\neducation and health services during the emergency response
\nperiod and the reconstruction phase.<\/p>\n
"We will continue to focus on such rehabilitation projects so
\nthat people in the area can get back to normal and restart their
\ndaily activities," she said.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Minister of Public Works Djoko Kirmanto told the
\nHouse's Commission V for public works, housing, transportation
\nand telecommunications that his ministry was still working with
\nthe National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) on drafting
\nthe blueprint.<\/p>\n
Djoko explained that his ministry still needed Rp 590 billion
\nto clean up rubble and debris, Rp 660 billion for the
\nconstruction of 1,548 barracks for the displaced, and Rp 100
\nbillion for support facilities for the rehabilitation programs.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-finalizing-post-tsunami-reconstruction-plan-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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