TEMPO.CO, Mojokerto – The East Java administration will increase its budget to construct an iconic housing complex dubbed the Majapahit Village in Trowulan district, Mojokerto regency. The amount of the budget will be proposed by the government and the project is slated to kick off in November.

“We will provide financial support in 2015,” East Java Governor Soekarwo told reporters in Mojokerto on Monday, October 20, 2014.

The Majapahit Village is a joint project initiated by the East Java government and the Mojokerto regency. The East Java government has earmarked cash to transform a total of 296 houses into traditional houses bearing the architecture of the Majapahit Kingdom.

The owners of the houses have okayed the planned renovation. The cost to renovate a house is around Rp25 million.

The 296 houses are located in three villages in Trowulan district, viz. Sentorejo, Bejijong and Jatipasar villages—in which the remains of the ancient Majapahit Kingdom were discovered.

However, Didik Chusnul Yakin, the chief of the Mojokerto Cultural, Tourism, Youth and Sports Agency, said the budget earmarked for this project was inadequate. “The Rp25 million budget per house has ballooned to Rp40-50 million per house,” he said.

ISHOMUDDIN