Coastal erosion threatens houses

PADANG, West Sumatra: Continuous erosion threatens at least 500 residents' houses standing along the Pasir Parupuk Tabing shore.

Residents said on Tuesday that about five kilometers of the beach had been destroyed by large waves.

Idham, a local, said that a water front was needed to curb the waves. "The Padang administration has planned to build a breakwater to reduce the force of the waves; unfortunately local fishermen rejected the plan, arguing that the project would hamper their business."

There are hundreds of houses standing along six kilometers of the Pasir Parupuk Tabing beach, which is vulnerable to erosion. No official statement exists as to how the housing complex was built originally in such an unstable area.

Head of the Water Resources Development Office Bambang Istijono said that a one-kilometer dike would be constructed to curb the waves. "It will be a temporary measure, as what we need is a breakwater."

He said the administration should discuss the construction of the breakwater with the fishermen soon, or the housing complex would gradually be washed away.(28/sur)