River Normalization, Central Bangka Regency Government Relocation Of 185 Coastal Residents' Houses

Central Bangka Regent Algafry Rahman while reviewing residents whose houses will be relocated, Saturday (7/10) (ANTARA/Ahmadi)

CENTRAL BANGKA - Central Bangka Regency Government, Bangka Belitung Islands Province, relocated as many as 185 houses on the banks of the West Kurau and East Kurau rivers.

"Based on data, 185 houses will be relocated, namely 119 stages one and 66 houses will be relocated in phase two," said Central Bangka Regent Algafry Rahman in Koba, Saturday.

The Central Bangka Regency Government relocated as many as 185 houses in the two villages in order to realize the slum arrangement program and normalize river flow in the mouths of West Kurau and East Kurau Villages.

"We have provided a very representative location, now the land clearing stage and we are targeting 2024 residents who have been relocated to new settlements," he said.

Head of the Housing, Settlement and Transportation Office of Central Bangka Regency Fani Hendra Saputra said Kurau is a coastal area and river estuary, so many houses around the riverbanks need to be moved if river dredging is already running.

The dredging of the Kurau River in order to normalize flooding, because there has been a silting of the river and an increase in fishing boat port facilities. "According to the regent's direction, we are still collecting data because some houses have not been moved, but they are only restored," he said.

Fani said that the villages of West Kurau and East Kurau are fresh fish producing villages and are designated as creative economy villages. West Kurau and East Kurau Villages are also tourist entrances to Ketawai Island which is one of the leading tourist destinations in this area. "In fact, these two villages must be arranged so they don't seem shabby because they are the entrances to tourists who are also on cross-provincial roads," he said.