TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I (AP I) president director Danang Baskoro said the company will commence land clearing for an international airport project in Kulonprogo, Yogyakarta.
The land clearing is scheduled for January 27 or 30, which is to be officiated by President Joko Widodo.
According to Danang, the company has resolved land clearing problem that was a major stumbling block to the project.
AP I has not named the winning bidder of Kulonprogo Airport project. However, land clearing will be carried out by Angkasa Pura Property, a subsidiary of AP I. “Contractor bidding process is underway. The winning bidder will be announced,” Danang said.
The Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning Sofyan Djalil expressed that AP I can proceed with construction of Kulonprogo international airport project. According to him, land clearing problem has been resolved. “There is no rejection anymore. No problem,” Sofyan said last week at the SOE Ministry building Jakarta.
According to Sofyan, the National Land Agency (BPN) has consigned funds at local court as compensation to residents owning the areas subject to land clearing for the proposed airport project. “Those who disagree with the amount of compensation may file a lawsuit to the court. So that the AP I can proceed with the work,” Sofyan said.
Land-clearing has proven to be a major stumbling block to the project. Some local residents have yet to agree terms with the government. They had filed a lawsuit to Wates District Court. Meanwhile, others have plainly rejected the planned airport construction regardless of compensation.
KHAIRUL ANAM|PRIBADI WICAKSONO | RAIHUL FADJRI
