Surakarta needs Rp 44b for 2007 flood victims

The Surakarta city administration is applying for Rp 44 billion from the Office of the Coordinating People’s Welfare Minister to pay compensation to residents living on the banks of the Bengawan Solo River who were affected by flooding in 2007.

The city administration needs Rp 51 billion but could only secure Rp 7 billion from the city budget.

Vice Mayor FX Hadi Rudyatmo recently said that the city administration would submit the request to the minister’s office.

The funds will be distributed as grants to residents in possession of land deeds in six sub-districts along Bengawan Solo River. An independent appraisal team recommended a grant of between Rp 400,000 and Rp 600,000 per square meter and Rp 8.5 million for each building.

Despite insufficient funds, the city administration went ahead with a staggered relocation plan in Jebres, Joyotakan, Pucangsawit, Sangkrah, Semanggi and Sewu sub-districts.

The relocation started in 2008 following a massive flood in late 2007 affecting 1,571 residents. As many as 993 residents have been relocated and given a grant of Rp 20.5 million each as they were living on state land.

There are 80 plots of deeded land, some in Jebres, Sewu and Pucangsawit sub-districts, but the city administration has to acquire these plots first.

Mayor Joko Widodo said relocation was the answer to sparing residents living on Bengawan Solo riverbanks from the flooding they had endured in the past four years.

He plans to convert the area into an urban forest.

Meanwhile, secretary of the relocation team, Hasta Gunawan, said the administration was preparing a legal basis for a negotiation team on the grants. The negotiation team would determine grant amounts for affected residents. (nvn)