Drinking water projects delayed

JAKARTA (JP): The issuance of permits for the installation of water pipelines that the state-owned water company applied for three months ago is pending.

The company applied for permits for excavations in eight locations. Each of the projects are worth Rp 2.5 billion (US$1.1 million).

Chief of the Jakarta public works office Soeharto said Thursday that the government cannot issue the permits until the contractors meet all the requirements.

The delay in the issuance of the permits was raised by chief of the Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Builders Association Daniel Hutapea on Thursday.

"We are wondering why the city administration is taking so long to issue the permits," Hutapea said as reported by Antara.

He said that the problem has forced the water company to change the schedule of the projects. (pan)