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.