Surjadi backs athletes village plan

Surjadi backs athletes village plan

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja fully supports the
1997 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) athletes village construction
plan on a four-hectare former shooting range in Senayan,
according to National Sports Council deputy chairman Arie Sudewo.

"Now that the governor has approved the plan, nothing should
hinder it from being carried out," Arie said after meeting with
Surjadi at City Hall yesterday.

Surjadi's oral backing can be regarded as "approval" from the
city administration, which, as deputy governor Tubagus Rais put
it, had to hold up issuing the construction permit because it has
not received the construction plan.

Two weeks ago, the underwriting consortium responsible for
building the village complained that it had yet to receive
approval from the city administration although it said it had
sent the construction proposal in July.

Surjadi's remarks also serve as the final approval the
consortium, led by President Soeharto's son Bambang Trihatmodjo,
needs.

Approval has already come from Minister/State Secretary
Moerdiono. The Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and
chairman of the patron board of the Games organizing committee,
Azwar Anas, has also sent a letter to the Jakarta governor urging
the city administration to help solve "all the technical
problems" affecting the village.

The 1,000-room village is expected to accommodate about 4,300
athletes from the 10 participating countries. Construction costs
are estimated at US$70 million. With the Games slated for Oct. 11
to Oct. 19 next year, the consortium has 10 months to complete
the project. It has yet to appoint contractors or fix the
construction schedule. (04/arf)