Coastal erosion threatens houses

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)