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JP/4/house

House divided over Ladia Galaska road development

Moch. N. Kurniawan
Jakarta

Please see comment in yellow 2/3 of the way through
The House of Representatives is divided over the construction
project for the Ladia Galaska road in Aceh, which will pass
through the Leuser National Park.

Commission VIII for science, technology and environment has
objected to the project, saying it is simply a waste of money and
ignores environmental considerations.

"The Ministry of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure should
not think about the road and financial aspects only, but take
into consideration possible environmental destruction resulting
from the project," commission leader Moh. Askin told the Jakarta
Post. on Wednesday.

He said the House was supposed to hear on Wednesday the
findings of an investigation carried out by the Indonesian
Institute of Sciences (LIPI) about the road development's
feasibility, but the meeting was canceled without reason.

A member of LIPI's investigation team, who requested
anonymity, said the institute recommended that the road project
be halted. However, he refused to elaborate.

House Commission IV for infrastructure is in favor of the
project, saying it is aimed at facilitating the development of
the local economy.

Ministry of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure director
general for regional infrastructure Hendrianto said the ministry
had won support from Commission IV to construct the Ladia Galaska
road. The project commenced in 2003.

"We have been building the road in locations where we have not
encountered problems. In areas where controversy over
environmental destruction is high, we have done nothing but have
waited for the results of the LIPI investigation," he said.

Asked if LIPI had recommended that the road development be
aborted, Hendrianto said it was merely a suggestion.

"The decision lies in the hands of three senior officials:
Minister of Forestry M. Prakosa, Minister of Settlement and
Regional Infrastructure Soenarno and State Minister for the
Environment Nabiel Makarim," he said.

He said his office would continue with road construction in
dispute-free areas.

The settlement and regional infrastructure ministry has
claimed that development of the road is necessary to link western
and eastern Aceh, at the request of the Aceh administration.

The ministry has allocated Rp 100 billion (US$10.8 million)
for project expenditure in 2003 and Rp 150 billion in 2004.

It has awarded contracts to several firms to build the road.

ALL OF WHAT APPEARS BELOW WOULD BE MUCH EASIER TO UNDERSTAND IF
WRITTEN AS A TABLE

From Jeuram to Bt. Ateuh, the ministry has asked PT Wika Wira to
build the road, at a cost of Rp 74 billion.

For the Bt. Ateuh to Takengon section, the ministry has
selected PT Hutama Karya - Sejahtera, is this part of the company
name or another company? I thought it was just PT Hutama Karya at
a budget of Rp 71 billion.

PT Hutama Karya has won another contract that entitles it and
PT Hananan to construct a section between Takengon and Ise Ise,
at a cost of Rp 58 billion.

For the Ise Ise to Biang Kejeron section, the ministry has
awarded PT Jaya Konstruksi - Citra Jo the contract to build the
road for Rp 64 billion.

For Biang Kejeron to Lokop, PT Adhikarya - Pelita Jo will
build in a contract worth Rp 48 billion.

For the Lokop to Peureulak section, the ministry has awarded
the Rp 66 billion road project to PT Agra Co.