Minister Luhut: Moving Capital City Cheaper than Building Jakarta
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2 May 2019 20:57 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan voiced his opinion regarding the planned relocation of the capital city to outside Java Island. Agreeing with the prospect, Luhut compared the budget to move the capital with the infrastructure budget proposed by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.
"Budget for Jakarta development alone reaches almost IDR 571 trillion based on the Governor's proposal. While the capital relocation is around IDR 300 trillion if I'm not mistaken. Let Jakarta be a trade city and we look for a government city," said Luhut in the BPPT building in Jakarta on Thursday, May 2, 2019.
According to Luhut, the plan to move the capital had been long discussed, and the central government currently determined to actuate such a major step.
"Bappenas and independent team are currently studying it. If it's ready, then it'll be exposed. The process still requires time," Luhut added.
As for the location, Luhut handed the decision to the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), hoping the city will have a large area and far from earthquake activities. "[It should be in] large areas so the development will be good," he added.
Earlier, Palangkaraya Mayor Fairid Naparin said Central Kalimantan province is ready to welcome the relocation idea of the capital to his region. At present, 300,000 hectares area in three districts is available to support the center of government.
In addition to Palangkaraya city that preparing 119,000 hectares of lands, Katingan regency also has 81,000 hectares area. "Gunung Mas Regency also has over 98,000 hectares," said Fairid in Palangkaraya on Wednesday, May 1, 2019.
According to him, the Agrarian and Spatial Planning Ministry had studied and calculated the capacity of the region. "So if Indonesia's capital city is truly moved to Palangkaraya, we as the regional administration are already ready," Fairid concluded.
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