Mimika 29 Thousand Lack Of Decent Housing Units, Here Are The Obstacles

MIMIKA - The need for livable houses in Mimika Regency, Central Papua Province is still very high. Currently, the area still needs 29,157 units to be occupied by residents, especially indigenous Papuans (OAP) and underprivileged residents.

Head of the Mimika Housing, Settlement and Land Office (DPKPP), Abriyanti Nuhuyanan in Timika, Sunday, said that there are still many residents who need healthy and habitable houses in Mimika, spread over 18 districts (sub-districts) ranging from mountainous areas, coastal areas, city outskirts and in Timika City.

"The need for healthy and habitable houses is still very much in Mimika," said Abriyanti quoting ANTARA, October 5.

According to him, the number of houses built by the Mimika Regency Government from 2013 to 2024 has only reached around 2,100 units. In terms of numbers, it is still far from the target.

This year the Mimika Regency Government also built 209 housing units for OAP residents and underprivileged residents, where the house construction budget was sourced from the Mimika Regional Budget and Papua Special Autonomy Funds (Otsus).

According to Abriyanti, the Mimika Regency Government cannot meet the needs of all residents for healthy and habitable housing if they only rely on funding sources from the APBD considering that the budget allocation provided is limited.

"We are trying to propose to the Ministry of Housing and Settlement Areas of the Republic of Indonesia for programs to improve the quality (renovation) and construction of new houses. We hope that this can be realized in 2026," he said.

The aid houses built by the Mimika Regency Government for OAP residents and underprivileged residents are type 45 houses, consisting of two bedrooms, one living room, plus a kitchen and bathroom.

The construction of the house is adapted to the geographical conditions of its residents. For mountainous areas and coastal areas, it is a house on stilts using wooden construction, while for the area around Timika City it uses concrete construction.

The budget per unit for the area around Timika City reaches IDR 450 million, for coastal areas of IDR 650 million, while for mountainous areas it can reach IDR 1 billion because all building materials must be transported by air transportation.

In addition, the Mimika Regency Government also provides clean water facilities in the form of drill wells complete with dynamo and electrical connection with 900 KVA power for all houses built.

The community leader of Kampung Tunas Matoa Kwamki Narama, Max Edward Jikwa fully supports the Mimika Regency Government's policy to continue the community's housing development program.

"So that people in the mountains, on the coast and on the outskirts of the city can get proper housing. Complaints from the community so far are only a matter of housing, so that they can sleep safely, comfortably and peacefully and can only find food," said Max.

Youth leader Kwamki Narama Johni Jikwa hopes that the Mimika Regency Government will pay fair and equitable attention to all residents who do not have healthy and habitable housing facilities.

"We saw that in previous years many houses were built by local governments but until now they are not occupied, until the grass grows high. We are very sorry because there are still many residents who do not have a house and really want housing assistance," said Johni.