Govt allocates rp273 b for Lapindo tourist site

Antara News, Saturday, May 29, 2010 02:26 WIB

Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA News) - The government has set aside Rp273 billion in funds to develop a geological tourist object near the Lapindo mudflow site in Sidoarjo district, East Java, an official said.

"The government through the maritime affairs and fisheries ministry has set aside Rp273 billion in funds to develop Lapindo geological tourist site," East Java Governor Soekarwo said here on Friday.

The 83-hectare geological tourist object would be located north of the mudflow site, he said adding: "President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited the location some time ago."

"The DED (detailed engineering design) of the project will be available in 2011. The project is likely to be started this year," he said.

Asked to comment on the land subsidence around the mudflow site, he said there was nothing to worry about it.

"The land subsidence can be handled if new embankments are not built. The emergence of new mudflow spots and land subsidence results from the construction of new embankments which add to another burden," he said quoting geologists of the Surabaya-based Sepuluh November Institute of Technology (ITS) and Airlangga University (Unair).

To date, there were 180 thousand mudflow spots, including 30 thousand to 50 thousand new ones, he said.

The mudflow first began from a crack near an exploratory gas well owned by PT Lapindo Brantas on May 29, 2006. It soon expanded into a mud lake, swallowing houses, factories and schools, leaving more than 15,000 people homeless.

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