Megawati criticizes excavation projects<\/p>\n
Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Jakartans have become accustomed to annoying excavation
\nprojects along the city roads, either for telephone lines, water
\npipelines or electricity cables.<\/p>\n
Apparently the grumbling does not only come from ordinary
\ncitizens. Even President Megawati Soekarnoputri has noticed it.<\/p>\n
"I have raised the (excavation) issue many times with the
\nMinister ... could there be more coordination in the excavation
\nprojects?," Megawati asked during an informal meeting with former
\nKalpataru Award winners at the State Palace.<\/p>\n
The award is given to those who display excellence in
\npreserving the natural environment.<\/p>\n
"One can observe that they dig today, fill in the excavation
\non the next day, and dig again ... all at the same spot," she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, Minister of Resettlement and Regional
\nInfrastructure Soenarno could only answer the president by saying
\nthat each project involved different contractors, who did not
\nusually coordinate with each another.<\/p>\n
The minister of transportation, who also supervises certain
\naspects of the telecommunications sector, and the minister of
\nenergy and mineral resources, who is charged with supervision of
\nelectricity projects, were not present at the meeting.<\/p>\n
When confronted by Megawati, Soenarno was unable to give an
\nadequate explanation, other than to blame it on conflicting
\nprojects. There was no mention about the need for pipe
\ninstallation projects to be more coordinated.<\/p>\n
"As a country with many expert human resources, we should be
\nable to be more precise in coordinating plans and programs in all
\nsectors," Megawati commented.<\/p>\n
Many residents, both in the capital and the outskirts, have
\ncomplained about the projects.<\/p>\n
"The sidewalk along the road near my residential area was
\npotholed because the contractor didn't cover it over properly
\nafter excavating it for the telephone lines. It is inconvenient
\nfor pedestrians walking along the road, as they must avoid the
\nmud during the rainy season."<\/p>\n
"The work took place only two months after the road had been
\nexcavated by electricity company PLN," complained Benny, a
\nresidence of Citra Raya housing complex in Tangerang.<\/p>\n
The project has also caused at least one fatality, as a
\npedestrian was found dead in a telephone line excavation in
\nBekasi earlier this month due to the slippery road.<\/p>\n
In the wider scope, Megawati also criticized the bureaucrats'
\nsluggish attitude to make direct observations in their related
\nfields, which has caused the country's development to become
\nstagnant.<\/p>\n
In order for the bureaucrats to gain a thorough comprehension
\non the issues surrounding the people, Megawati said they ought to
\nshed their formal ceremonial ways and begin meeting regularly
\nwith the people.<\/p>\n
"The bureaucrats are too lazy to go meet the people," Megawati
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
"I call on them to go see the situation in the field.. don't
\never expect environmental problems to be solved when the
\nbureaucrats are only conducting ceremonial meetings," she said.<\/p>\n
She gave an example of the diminishing Indonesian forest
\ndespite large amounts of reforestation funds allocated to the
\nDepartment of Forestry.<\/p>\n
"When discussing the (reforestation projects), everyone (the
\nbureaucrats) remains silent," she said, adding that the people,
\nwith the support of the bureaucrats, could be working together in
\npreserving natural resources.<\/p>\n
"We have witnessed for many years how the reforestation
\nprojects clash with mining, farming, irrigation and
\ninfrastructure projects," she added.<\/p>\n
During the New Order era, reforestation funds were often used
\nfor other purposes for example, the Dirgantara Indonesia, which
\nused to be called National Aircraft Industry (IPTN), and to
\norganize the Southeast Asian Games.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-criticizes-excavation-projects-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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