World Bank extends aid

PADANG, West Sumatra: The World Bank has extended financial aid to help develop 10,848 hectares of a 32,000-hectare swampland in Silaut subdistrict, Pesisir Selatan district.

Some Rp 18.5 billion (US$6,981,132), which came both from the World Bank and the state budget, has been spent reclaiming the swamp, said Bambang Istijono, head of the river and swamp section of the West Sumatra irrigation service.

He was quoted by Antara as saying over the weekend the Silaut swamp was being developed to support the government's transmigration program.

Some 2,000 families have already been resettled on the 10,848- hectare area and are growing crops, he added. (swe)