Optimizing The Potential Of Villages In Central Java, Ganjar Encourages Inviting Students For Innovation

JAKARTA - Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo reviewed the results of the Central Java Provincial Government's financial assistance (Bankeu) in Sikasur Village, Belik District, Pemalang Regency.

He instructed villages to build networks to develop their potential.

Ganjar said that the financial assistance provided to develop a tourist village in Sikasur Village reached Rp. 1 billion. The funds come from the allocation of financial assistance from the Central Java Provincial Government for the 2021 budget year. The assistance will be used for the construction of the Silating Lake with an area of 3,179 cubic meters, four gazebo units, and the repair of the Silating Lake rainbow bridge.

"This is financial assistance that we provide to villages which are then developed for tourist villages. It turns out that the results are good. The village head (village head) and all components of the community are trying to participate so that the potential of the village can be developed. The aid is used to repair infrastructure," said Ganjar in an official statement from the provincial government, Monday, August 1.

The pond that Ganjar refers to is a Silating Lake, utilizing the springs in that place. Even though he has added a revenue facility from the Provincial Bankeu, Ganjar still sees that there is greater potential for the Silating Lake. For example, arranging the rides to make it more interesting, and preparing local specialties.

"But that's not enough, it must be developed again. So we need partners. I said just look for campus. There were students' children, they then prepared, including then looking for other sources that were quite good for the development of tourist villages," he said.

Another great potential that Ganjar sees is the existence of Bengkawah Waterfall. The waterfall in Sikasur Village has indeed been used by the community as part of a tourist village. According to the governor, the Bengkawah waterfall area can still be developed, especially in relation to landscape arrangement and utilization.

“Earlier there was a waterfall, Curug Bengkawah, it was beautiful, geologically good, the rock was very distinctive, as if it had been cut into pieces. That can be done for research, then for rafting with a low grade, so that people can really have fun going through the existing river rail. It's just that the area there must be prepared, arranged," said Ganjar.

The arrangement of the area, especially the Bengkawah waterfall area, is requested to involve experts such as architects and landscape experts. After that, regional planning should also involve inter-village as much as possible.

“This is a lot of friends of the village head. Perhaps it can build networks, so that our financial assistance to villages to develop tourist villages can grow. They don't just see my village, but this can be networked with the next village, it can be next to it," he explained.

He added that the inter-village network was needed to develop each other's potential. It is hoped that in the future a tourist village area will appear, consisting of various interrelated villages.

“Later it can form an area that can be developed. The potential was conveyed, so that the management was good, we sold tour packages. That's good, it's just a matter of promo later, for that we will teach marketing, "he said.