Resettlement sites become villages

Resettlement sites become villages

BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: A total of 284 transmigration sites
have been converted into 266 villages, the head of the local
transmigration office, P. Jogjapratono, said here Saturday.

Antara quoted the official as saying that the change of status
proved that transmigration programs have contributed to
development of the province.

Lampung has 1,983 villages, 13 percent of which were initially
resettlement sites.

The official said that the transmigration program, which
started here in 1905 under the Dutch, has helped develop a number
of cities, including Metro, Way Abung and Bandar Jaya in Central
Lampung, and Tulang Bawang II in North Lampung.

But problems remain, he said, one of which is the high number
of forest squatters who have yet to be resettled. More than
86,575 families of farmers are still living in the forests, 5,676
of which live in conservation forests, 26,900 in protected
forests, and 51,000 in production forests.

As of today, 71,081 families from around the country have
resettled in Lampung. (swe)