TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Trenggalek Regent, Emil Elestianti said that Trenggalek Regency is a suitable location for the construction of an airport that could serve the southern coast of Java - in fact, the Transport Ministry is planning to ease up airspace restrictions above the Sourther Coast of Java, which would allow scheduled passenger services to pass through the area.
The move was made after pressure were made by eight regional leaders from Kediri and Madiun.
Emil said that the plan to construct an airport has been conveyed to the Regency's administration, the Mayor, as well as to the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law, and Human Rights Affairs, Luhut Panjaitan - in fact, Emil claims that President Joko Widodo has responded to the request to construct an airport in the area.
"We are grateful that the Cabinet Secretary, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Law and Security Affairs, the Transport Ministrt, and the Indonesian Army (TNI), has welcomed our proposal," said Emil to Tempo on Saturday, July 16, 2016.
Emil is certain that regional leaders across Kediri and Madiun will cooperate with the Transport Ministry to accelerate the construction of the project, once it is given a green light. Among the leaders that proposed the plan are the regent of Madiun Muhtarom, the regent of Magentan, Sumantri, the Mayor of Kediri Abdullah Abu Bakar, the Regent of Ponorogo, Ipong Muchlissoni, the Regent of Pacitan Indartarto, the Regent of Tulungagung Syahri Mulyo, Blitar's Regent, Rijanto, and the Regent of Trenggalek, Emil Elestianto.
Despite the seemingly positive response from the central government, the regents themselves have yet to reach an agreement on which area should be developed for this airport, which will serve Java's Southern Coast - leaving the decision to be made by the Ministry of Transport.
"We have yet to decide on the exact location, but there has been talks about establishing an airport in Pacitan, Kediri, and Blitar, in addition to the expansion of Iswahyudi Airfield for commercial use," said Emil.
That said, Emir said that South Trenggalek is the probably the best location for establishing the new airport - citing the reason that the area is right in the middle and is easily accessible from all eight regencies and cities that has thrown their support on the establishment of the airport. "The central location of South Tulungagung makes it a perfect location, should the government approves of the plan," he said.
The Head of Public Relations for Tulungagung Regency, Sudarmaji, said that the Administrationh as already set aside some land in the district of Campurdarat, which is located sout of Popoh Beach - which has a flat elevation and is located only five kilometres from Java's Southern Ringroad. "This is a very strategic location," he said.
The only problem, continued Sudarmaji, is that the land that has been set aside is currently being managed by several villages in the district - although the Administration guarantees that land acquisition will not be a problem because once the airport is constructed, the economic benefit for the area will be significant.
Previously, Transport Minister, Ignasius Jonan had once said that there is indeed a plan to construct a new airport in East Java - which will be completed within 2 years with an approximate budget of Rp700 trillion, which is to be funded by the State Budget (APBN).
HARI TRI WASONO
