River Normalization In Samarinda Uses IDR 51 Billion Budget

Karang Mumus River, Samarinda, the Veterinary Bridge area which has been normalized. (Ist/HO Komitas for River Lovers GMSS-SKM Samarinda)

SAMARINDA - The normalization of the Karang Mumus River (SKM) in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, which began this week, uses a total budget of IDR 51 billion from three parties, namely the Central Government, the East Kalimantan Provincial Government, and the Samarinda City Government.

"The Central Government allocated a budget through the Kalimantan IV River Basin Center (BWS) amounting to Rp33 billion, which was used for anointing the SKM border," said Samarinda Mayor Andi Harun as reported by Antara, Friday, May 13.

Then the budget from the East Kalimantan Provincial Government (Kaltim) through the Public Works, Spatial Planning and Public Housing (PUPR-Pera) Office worth Rp. 10 billion for normalization, and from the Samarinda City Government worth Rp. 8 billion for land acquisition for residents.

Previously, during a Coordination Meeting (Rakor) with the East Kalimantan PUPR-Pera Service and Kalimantan IV BWS at the Samarinda City Hall, Andi Harun said the normalization of the Samarinda SKM was carried out for the Ruhui Rahayu Bridge segment to the Nibung Bridge.

He said, as many as 98 buildings and houses that previously needed land acquisition, today only 30 buildings are still in the process of paying compensation.

Heavy equipment to carry out river normalization in Samarinda began to be deployed in a day or two, namely being directed near the Ruhui Rahayu Bridge, because normalization starts from that area.

"Furthermore, it is possible that there will be a gap of a few days, new materials will be added, while waiting for the completion of the 30 houses that will be released, so that work can start this week," said Andi Harun.

Meanwhile, Head of the Water Resources Division of PUPR-Pera East Kalimantan Province, Runandar, said the normalization of SKM was carried out simultaneously, namely while waiting for 30 houses that still needed to be freed by the Samarinda City Government.

For now, he continued, PUPR-Pera Kaltim is carrying out normalization, while BWS Kalimantan IV will carry out further normalization in the form of anointing at the SKM border downstream or towards the Nibung Bridge.

"After the Samarinda City Government completes land acquisition in the Sidodadi Village area, normalization will continue in Temindung Permai Village, then proceed to the Commercial Bridge segment to Jalan Tarmidi," said Runandar.