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AKARTA: The City Council has allocated Rp 180 billion (US$20.12 million) to renovate its old building, even though it is constructing a new building costing Rp 500 billion.

Of the renovation budget, Rp 80 billion will be used to renovate the interior, the façade and repair a marble wall, and the remaining Rp 100 billion will be used to build a connecting bridge between the old and the new building.

Gerindra councillor M. Sanusi confirmed that the council had allocated the funds to renovate the building.

“The budget allocation was never discussed by the budget committee, but it has been allocated in the 2012 regional budget,” he said.

Deputy council speaker Sayogo said that although the budget had not been discussed by the committee, he said the council would use the budget to build meeting rooms for factions. “But we will see if we really need the Rp 80 billion for the renovation or not. The consultant will look into it later,” he said.

The council previously spent Rp 18.5 billion on the renovation of the plenary meeting hall.