Protect Mangrove forests: Soeharto

Protect Mangrove forests: Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has instructed the city
administration to protect the mangrove forests on the northern
coastal area.

"This is imperative to avoid environmental pollution as well
as to further develop the northern coastal area," Soeharto said
at the Bina Graha presidential office yesterday.

He was speaking after having listened to a report by Governor
Surjadi Soedirdja on the reclamation planning of the northern
coastal area.

Also on hand were Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono, Minister
of Public Works Radinal Moochtar, Minister of Defense and
Security Edi Sudradjat, Minister of Environment Sarwono
Kusumaatmadja, Minister of National Development Planning
/Chairman of the National Development Planning Board Ginandjar
Kartasasmita, Minister of Transportation Harjanto Dhanutirto and
Minister of Agrarian Affairs/Chairman of National Land Agency
Soni Harsono.

The President pointed out that without the forests the people
living nearby would be deprived of their source of livelihood.

On the occasion, Soeharto gave the go ahead to the
administration's plans for the reclamation of the northern
coastal area. The reclamation will cover a 32 kilometer length of
land 1.5 km in width. It will practically cover the northern
coastal parts of the city, except the Tanjung Priok seaport.

The President said the costs for the reclamation work should
not be taken from the state budget. "The city administration
should cooperate with private companies to fund it."

He also asked Governor Surjadi to cooperate with the West Java
provincial administration which is also planning the reclamation
of the western and eastern parts of its coastal area.

In the meantime Governor Surjadi told reporters that it would
take 20 to 30 years for the city administration to complete this
gigantic project. He estimated a fund of around Rp 200 billion is
needed to finance the project for the first five years. (bas)