Govt needs Rp 30b for evicted families

INDRAMAYU, West Java: The Indramayu regency government needs Rp 30 billion (US$3529.4) to resettle and create jobs for 223 fisherfolk families hailing from Indramayu, who were recently evicted from their Jakarta homes.

The fisherfolk, totaling 800 people, previously lived in Kali Adem, Muara Angke, North Jakarta. They currently live in tents and on their boats in North Jakarta.

The land being prepared for the families is located in Eretan, Karangsong and Dadap districts here, said Indramayu Regent Irianto Syafiuddin.

He said the administration planned to build low-cost housing in the area, for which the families would be expected take out loans to pay for.

Irianto said the land was owned by the Indramayu government. The expenditure to build the housing will come from regency, provincial and state budgets.

"The plan is being discussed," he said.

Irianto also said a fish market would also be built in the area so as to create jobs for the unemployed. -- JP