NTT asks more funds to reconstruct Alor

NTT asks more funds to reconstruct Alor

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The provincial government
complained on Thursday it lacked funds to rebuild houses and
public facilities ravaged by last month's earthquake on Alor
island, which killed 23 people.

The local administration had received only Rp 60 billion
(US$6.6 million) from the central government to rebuild 1,300
houses, 28 school buildings, irrigation and clean water
facilities, NTT public works office head Piet Djami Rebo said.

"More than 5,000 houses were severely damaged, but the central
government allocated fund for only 1,300 homes, so we need more
money to rebuild 2,700 other houses," he added.

Alor Regent Ans Takalapeta had earlier estimated that the
destruction caused by the tectonic quake cost up to Rp 160
billion. --JP