Council freezes mansion project

Council freezes mansion project

SEMARANG: The Central Java Legislative Council has delayed its decision in approving Governor Soewardi's plan to build a Rp 7 billion state guest house.

"We are still arguing over the cost," Samsuri Gandakusuma, who heads the council's team to study the project, was quoted by Antara as saying.

The governor has denied accusations that the guest house is an extravagant project, saying that the provincial administration needs a place to accommodate visiting VIPs.

The council team has been discussing the project with the Public Works Authorities which is to supervise the project.

The team's seven members visited Surabaya and Bandung for a glimpse of state guest houses there and came to the conclusion that the Central Java administration must reduce the cost of the project.

The council insists that the per meter cost of the construction could be brought down to Rp 1.05 million ($456) from the Rp 1.4 million proposed by the administration, Noorzain, another member of the council's team, said. (emb)