Shanties increase rapidly in Batam

Shanties increase rapidly in Batam

BATAM, Riau: The thriving growth of shanties and slum houses
in Batam is encouraged by the fact that there is no single law
which can control urbanization, an official says.

The head of information and marketing office at the Batam
Authority, Ahmad Dahlan, told The Jakarta Post on Monday that the
annual influx of migrants to Batam was high, and a regulation was
badly needed to curb the situation.

Without revealing any figures, Dahlan said that most of the
new comers were unskilled people, who had no fixed jobs in Batam.

The Batam Authority and the City administration had submitted
regional regulations on the control of urbanization to the
Provincial Legislative Council, he said.

"Discussion on the regulation has been halted due to the
establishment of the Batam Mayoralty Legislative Council on Oct.
31," Dahlan said.

Shanties and illegal housing have been growing rapidly in Suka
Jadi, Baloi, Tanjung Piayu, Bengkong and Tanjung Uma areas.
(26/sur)