Cilacap residents to be evacuated

CILACAP, Central Java: At least 400 families in Cilacap regency could be forced to evacuate their homes to make way for the construction of an electricity power plant by PT Bimantara Citra and the state-owned mining company, Pertamina.

Rahardjan Sudjani, the head of the local development planning agency, said on Thursday that a mapping team has been working on a proposal for areas to be appropriated for the project. The proposal will be submitted to the National Land Agency.

According to Rahardjan, the government has approached residents. "The appropriation process should proceed smoothly," Rahardjan was quoted by Antara as saying.

The project is expected to start soon and be completed on March 31, 1999. Bimantara and Pertamina are ready to invest some Rp 600 billion (US$255,319,148) and Rp 450 billion, respectively, in the project. (14)