Tangerang cancels water cooperation with Tutut

JAKARTA (JP): The Tangerang regency government has canceled a cooperative agreement on drinking water supply with a company owned by Siti "Tutut" Hardijanti Rukmana, former president Soeharto's eldest daughter.

Local officials said Tuesday the action was taken because the company, PT Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada, had failed to start any work on the project since the agreement was signed on Nov. 15 last year.

"There has been no sign the company will start the project since the Memorandum of Understanding was signed," spokesperson for the Tangerang water enterprise Ena Karlina said.

Last week, the Jakarta water enterprise also canceled an agreement with two companies controlled by Soeharto's eldest son Sigit Hardjojudanto and tycoon Liem Sioe Liong, a long-time Soeharto family crony. Jakarta officials said the decision was taken on grounds the awarding of the project stank of nepotism, collusion and corruption.

Under the agreement with the Tangerang regency government, PT Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada would construct a drinking water distribution system with a capacity of 1,000 liters per second, Karlina said.

It was signed by Tangerang government-owned water company Chusfani Kartadikaria and PT Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada chief executive officer Bambang Soeroso at Serpong on Nov. 15, 1997.

The private company would build the infrastructure in the fast growing districts of Tiga Raksa and Cikupa for two years in the first phase.

In the second phase, it would build the pipelines in Pondok Aren, Ciputat and Pamulang districts, Antara reported.

The abortive project was part of the local government's efforts to meet the growing demand for drinking water up to 2015, which is projected to reach 2,719 liters per second for residential areas and another 3,367 liters per second for industrial areas.

The Cidurian and Cisadane rivers were to be the water source for the project. (pan)