Minister Basuki Admits He Is Ready To Solve Land Acquisition Problems At IKN

JAKARTA - Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono emphasized that he is ready to carry out his duties as Acting Head of the Archipelago Capital Authority (IKN).

As the Acting Chief of OIKN, he will admit that he is ready to resolve the issue of land acquisition covering an area of 2,086 hectares (ha) at IKN.

Land problems at IKN had made the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan furious.

"It turns out that the settlement according to the King as Deputy Minister of ATR must be with a Presidential Decree. There are two things that need to be made by the Presidential Decree. The Presidential Decree for the procurement of 2,086 ha with Social Impact Handling Plus (PDSK) Plus. If PDSK only grows. If plus can be renovated, make a house. It depends on deliberation with the community," said Basuki when met at the DPR RI Complex, Jakarta, Thursday, June 6.

"The president's direction prioritizes the interests of the community. So, I will carry out PDSK plus that. Now, the Presidential Regulation is being prepared by the King of July with the State Secretariat," he continued.

Regarding the relocation issue, he will cooperate with the local regional head.

Basuki is optimistic that he will be able to handle this based on previous experience.

He reminded residents who do not want to be relocated that the land they currently occupy belongs to the state.

"This, right, is state land. So, later the regent and I will take care of it. I can definitely do it. I have released thousands of kilometers of toll roads, dams. This kind of thing is normal, but we have to execute it," he said.

Basuki gave an example, community relocation of the Semantok Dam project in Nganjuk, East Java.

Then, the relocation of the people in Semarang was the impact of the construction of the Jragung Dam.

"For example, the Semantok Dam in Nganjuk, I moved one village, I made drinking water, the school. At the Jragung Dam, Semarang, the same. With 28 hectares of land, I moved it. I prepared the settlements, the drinking water. They are willing," he said.