Aceh funds mostly for infrastructure

Aceh funds mostly for infrastructure

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government is planning to allocate Rp 22.5 trillion (US$2.4
billion), or around 50 percent of the Aceh reconstruction total
budget of Rp 45 trillion, for infrastructure projects in the
tsunami-stricken province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.

State Minister for National Development Planning Sri Mulyani
Indrawati said on Wednesday that based on the planned blueprint
for the reconstruction of Aceh, the government would focus on
reconstructing damaged infrastructure and building new
infrastructure.

"Besides the allocation for infrastructure, around Rp 9
trillion of the money will be allocated for education and health
programs," she said at the State Palace.

Mulyani said the infrastructure projects would include the
construction of roads, bridges, ports, dams, irrigation works and
other public facilities.

The funds for the reconstruction of Aceh would be disbursed
after the government completed its blueprint.

Mulyani said the blueprint was expected to be completed on
March 26 after being approved by the Cabinet early next week.

She said one of the crucial items in the blueprint was a plan
to facilitate Acehnese living along the coast who refused to be
relocated to other areas. This would involve the construction of
barrages to minimize the impact of any possible future tsunamis.