President kicks off seven public works projects in Bali

Irawaty Wardany, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar | Mon, 06/16/2008 10:03 AM

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially inaugurated seven public works projects at a ceremony in Suwung, Denpasar, on Saturday.

The projects include beach protection systems in Nusa Dua, Sanur and Padanggaalak, a sustainable irrigation system in Buleleng and Karangasem regencies, renovation of a decentralized irrigation system in Buleleng, Karangasem and Jembrana, the Denpasar Sewerage Development Project (DSDP), a garbage sorting facility in Tukad Badung and Tukad Mati and the Lila Bhuana Sports Arena.

The projects were financed by the Indonesian and Japanese governments, along with the Bali provincial administration, at a cost of Rp 937 billion (US$100 million).

"We need to develop more infrastructure facilities throughout the country, including Bali, because the more facilities we have, the better our economic competitiveness," Yudhoyono said at the ceremony.

In attendance were the First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie, Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto, Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono, Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal, State Minister for Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Suryadharma Ali, Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Kojiro Shiojiri and Bali Governor Dewa Beratha.

Yudhoyono said good infrastructure was important for a world-class tourism destination such as Bali because it would raise its international profile and help attract more overseas visitors.

"We will continue our efforts to develop more facilities throughout the country, commensurate with economic growth and the state's ability to finance such projects," he said.

He said the development of a beach protection system on Bali's beaches would give added value to the island, famous for its "five S's" of sea, sand, surfing, sun and smiles.

Yudhoyono said Bali also needed an adequate sewer system to help maintain the island's reputation as "a place with a beautiful nature and a clean and healthy environment".

Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto said Indonesia was still burdened with a poor sanitation system.

"Most people use septic tanks to store waste, but unfortunately this can cause environmental damage because the waste is absorbed into the ground. And because the population density is constantly increasing, the accumulated waste will affect the groundwater and therefore pose health risks," he said.

He added a new waste-handling system was needed, and this was "why we built this piped liquid waste system here in Denpasar".

Djoko said the development of the DSDP was based on studies conducted between 1991 and 1992, which revealed high levels of pollution in Benoa Bay.

"Work on the DSDP began on Dec. 15, 1994, and ended this year. But this is only the first of three phases we have planned," he said.

He added the second phase would commence next year and would be completed in 2014.

Djoko said the first phase of the project -- the development of a wastewater treatment center in Suwung and the laying of 129 kilometers of pipes in Denpasar and Badung -- cost almost Rp 600 billion.

"This facility will serve up to 250,000 people in both regencies," Djoko said.