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)