Mount Padang region Megalith site in Karyamukti Village, District Cempaka, Cianjur regency, West Java. (25/2). TEMPO/Aditya Putra Herlambang
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Education and Culture Minister Muhammad Nuh said earlier this morning that the government would earmark Rp3 billion (US$250,000) for excavation of Mount Padang megalithic site in Cianjur, West Java.
Since 2012, a team of experts consisting geologists and archeologists have been studying Mount Padang. According to the minister, the first stage of the research has been completed and the second stage, site cleaning, will be initiated with the help of the Indonesian army.
Minister Nuh hoped that the cleaning stage would be completed in October, before the president-elect visits the Mount Padang. After the cleaning stage, the megalithic site would be developed as a tourists' destination, which is expected to be completed within four to five years.
"Of course we will develop areas surrounding the site. We will work with the Public Works Ministry and the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry," said Minister Nuh.
