President asks governor to prepare mud-flow compensation action plan

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asked East Java governor Imam Utomo, Sidoarjo district head Win Hendarso and the Sidoarjo Mudflow Tackling Body (BPLS) to prepare an action plan soon following a government`s decision on compensation for mud-flow affected villages.

"These ranking officials, namely governor Imam Utomo, district head Win Hendarso and head of BPLS had been invited to come here to prepare an action plan after the decision was made," Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto said here on Wednesday after attending a meeting to discuss the Lapindo mud-flow case settlement at the Presidential office.

The central government decided to stick to the Presidential Regulation No.14/2007 regarding the Sidoarjo Mudflow Mitigating Agency (BPLS) stipulating that compensation for the victims whose areas have been mapped into the mudflow affected locations will be tackled by PT Lapindo Brantas, but compensation for those living outside the locations will be the government`s responsibility, he said.

The action plan would among others contain matters relating to the timing for (the government`s decision) those living outside the mudflow affected location, payment settlement to the victims, evaluation on implementation of the action plan and building additional embankments and dikes.

The government has also decided to pay an equal amount of compensation to the three villages outside the mudflow affected locations which would be taken from the 2008 revised state budget.

"The three villages located between the southern embankment and Porong river are not mentioned in the map of the mudflow affected locations but also had an equally bad impact, so they deserve a similar assistance," the minister said.

Asked about the government`s responsibility (on mudflow case settlement), Djoko said that the decision was taken after an agreement was reached technically in a bid to carry out under a coopeation.

"The disposal of mud into Porong river should be conducted quickly to avoid the stress when it rains, " the minister said.

The government that vacating the three villages will reduce the mud volume in the reservoir because the mud will flow quickly into the Porong river, Djoko said, adding that the bad impact of the mudflow will decrease as well.

The three villages which should be vacated are Besuki, Kedungcangkring and Pejarakan. (*) END

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