Central Kalimantan closed to migrants

PALANGKARAYA, Central Kalimantan: An official here declared the province was closed for immigrants from other provinces due to the lack of funds in the 2000 local budget.

Chief of the regional office of the State Ministry of Transmigration and Population Lesmono said here on Tuesday that the local administration could only afford a reduction from the previous budget.

Lesmono said as quoted by Antara that his office would focus the funding on the existing 74 transmigration areas and to support 2,100 families currently involved in a peat land project for the next three to 10 months.

However, in contrast to Lesmono's statement, an official from Palangkaraya has made a demand for new migrants in the Mungku Baru area. (dja)