Govt seeks Rp 2.3t for road repair in Java, Sumatra
Govt seeks Rp 2.3t for road repair in Java, Sumatra
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government is seeking Rp 2.3 trillion (US$260 million) to
repair damaged roads on the eastern coast of Sumatra island and
Java's northern coast, according to a cabinet minister.
Minister for Settlement and Infrastructure Soenarno said
Tuesday that his office had set up two teams to deal with repair
work on the two islands.
"This (the repair of damaged roads) is the responsibility of
my office. We have informed legislators that we need Rp 2.3
trillion to repair Sumatra's eastern roads and roads on Java's
northern coastal areas," Soenarno told The Jakarta Post Tuesday
after a hearing with House of Representatives (DPR) Commission IV
in charge of transportation and infrastructure affairs.
He was quick to add that damaged roads on other islands would
also be repaired.
Soenarno revealed that the government was considering
replacing asphalt roads in certain areas with concrete roads,
which are considered to be more durable.
He said roads along Java's northern coastal areas were among
those to be replaced with concrete roads because some parts were
mountainous.
Data from the ministry of settlement and infrastructure shows
that up to March 2002, the length of roads on the eastern coast
of Sumatra reached 2,300 kilometers, of which some 408 kilometers
are lightly damaged and 173 kilometers heavily damaged.
The roads in the northern coastal areas of Java stretch 1,172
kilometers, of which 238 kilometers suffered from light damage
and 19 kilometers were heavily damaged.
Some sections of road in southern Kalimantan and Sulawesi are
also damaged. The length of roads in South Kalimantan reach 3,100
kilometers, of which 457 kilometers are lightly damaged and 154
kilometers heavily damaged.
Meanwhile, some legislators blamed the increasing number of
damaged roads on collusion between the highway patrol and drivers
of container trucks.
The highway patrol often allows overweight trucks to pass
after receiving bribes, knowing very well that overloaded trucks
could damage the roads.
Ahmad Muqowam of the United Development Party (PPP) said
Tuesday that supervision activities could not be carried out due
to rampant collusion between the officers and drivers.
"There should be a collective conscience in all of us, the
supervisors and the users of the roads," Muqowam told the Post.
Indonesia already has in force Law No.13/1980 on road affairs
which provides clear regulations on the quality, thickness, and
specifications of roads.
Fellow legislator Erman Suparno of the National Awakening
Party (PKB) acknowledged that the practice of mark-up during the
construction of roads might be one factor that accelerates road
damage.
However, Erman said that collusion between the officers and
drivers may be the major factor causing the damage. "This problem
has become a major concern," Erman added.
Syaiful Achmad of the Reform faction concurred with Muqowam
and Erman, saying that violations involving the maximum limit of
permitted weight was the major factor causing the damage.
Asked if manipulation of data during construction has produced
low quality roads, Syaiful said the participation of professional
people from abroad in the construction has hampered such
practices.
According to Syaiful, legislators have considered making
revisions to the road law, specifically by recommending the
upgrading of road specifications from 8 tons to 12 tons.
"We will revise the law because several articles in it have
become outdated," Syaiful said.