T

he lengthy forestry regulatory process has been blamed for the delayed construction of permanent homes for residents displaced by the tsunami that struck the Mentawai Islands regency in West Sumatra on Oct. 25, 2010.

Around 2,072 families were displaced by the tsunami and are still living in temporary homes.

In addition, the victims lack access to public services and education.

The housing program should involve the Forestry Ministry since more than 80 percent of the land that will be used for the housing project, and the economic plot for the displaced residents is located in a forest production location, which should be changed into a Timber Exploitation Permit (IPK) area before turning it into a housing area.

A 196,569-hectare plot has been reportedly allocated for the permanent homes and farms. The permanent homes will be located 3 kilometers from the coastline. Given the limited area of land, forest production, previously managed by the former forest concession company, will be used.

The government has earmarked Rp 232.98 billion (US$24 million) for the housing project, with each 36 square-meter home worth between Rp 60 million and Rp 70 million, including farmland.

Mentawai Islands regency council speaker Hendri Doris Satoko said that the regency and provincial administrations could not do much to accelerate the construction of permanent homes because they relied on the Forestry Ministry.

“We have to wait and follow the forestry regulation process. It seems that the ministry does not care about the humanitarian program as they hold on to the normative process,” Hendri told The Jakarta Post.

According to Hendri, it will take eight months just to get the ministerial approval for the land function transfer. The forestry minister issued an approval to change the function of the forested area on Sept. 4, 2012, and signed it on
Oct. 11, 2012.

Now, there are 19 items that must go through the process before the IPK permit is issued. The process involves a team from relevant agencies and the cost will be burdened on the Mentawai Islands regency budget of Rp 600 million.

Hendri projected that the construction of the permanent homes would commence in April or May next year. Land clearing will be carried out by the Indonesian Military (TNI), and the construction of homes would be carried out by the West Sumatra Disaster Mitigation Agency.

Agency head Yazid Fadhli said that the governor had repeatedly lobbied the forestry minister to speed up the regulation process. “Actually, we are ready to work, but it now depends on the Forestry Ministry’s regulatory process,” said Yazid.