Rp 2.2b project for Irian

FAKFAK, Irian Jaya: A Rp 2.2 billion (US$745,000) coastal reclamation project to expand the Irian Jaya town of Fakfak will start this month, Antara reported yesterday.

Head of the public works agency here, Sujarwo, said the project, scheduled to finish next March, would extend a two- kilometer stretch along the town's shore 125 meters further into the sea.

But the project is not without its critics.

Yacob Mutika of the World Wide Fund for Nature said he doubted the project's economic and esthetics benefits.

"There are still many public needs that need to be immediately addressed (rather than having this project)," Yacob was quoted as saying. (aan)