JAKARTA: Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono said Monday that the government expected rehabilitation and reconstruction of quake-devastated West Sumatra to commence Nov. 1.
"We actually hope the rehabilitation and reconstruction process will start earlier than Nov. 1," Agung said upon arrival in Padang.
He told Antara state news agency that the emergency response program to help the local government deal with the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck on Sept. 30 should last two months.
"Rehabilitation and reconstruction of houses and public facilities need to begin immediately so that people can live a normal life," Agung said.
He added he would propose that the President issue a decree to kickstart the rehabilitation and reconstruction process.
The quake killed more than 1,100 people and destroyed 135,000 houses in the province. The National Disaster Management Board has estimated the rehabilitation and reconstruction works in West Sumatra will last six months. - JP
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