Tanimbar island infrastructure development will be improved: minister

Saumlaki, Maluku, Jan 12 (ANTARA News) - In 2019, the Public Works and Housing Ministry has pledged to focus more on basic service infrastructure development for residents of Tanimbar Islands, West Southeast Maluku District (MTB), Maluku Province.

This was conveyed by Public Works and Housing Minister Mochamad Basoeki Hadimoeljono to reporters in Saumlaki after a working visit to several areas nicknamed Duan-Lolat on Friday.

"Around 24 km of roads in the Arma area are still damaged, and it turns out that only one layer of the road has been laid from the district to the National road," he said.

However, in 2019, there is a handling that is now auctioned. Hopefully, at the end of January, this would have been completed. This year, the Arma road to Siwahaan, Nirunmas Sub-district, is around 8 kilometers (km), but the long segment is all effective, he stressed.

Ideally, the national road must be coated with asphalt in two layers, so the ministry has sought additional budgets this year for stage-wise handling of the work of other damaged roads.

On Larat Island, Tanimbar Utara Sub-district, 10 km of the total 48 km of the road will also be paved. The Ministry had earlier disbursed a budget for paving roads on the 28-km Larat Island.

Speaking in connection with upgrading the status of Regional roads to the National road being pushed by the Regional Government of MTB District, Hadimoeljono admitted to welcoming the efforts of the district government.

"Some 158 km of the Trans Yamdena road have been declared a national road, while I have told the district head to propose an increase in the status of the road, and we will discuss it later, including the road circled west of the island of Yamdena," he revealed.

Regarding habitable housing for the economically weak community, Hadimoeljono has ensured that the program is still being implemented by the government. He claimed to have received a proposal from the West Southeast Maluku District Government to build decent housing that will be of concern to him.

"As to the issue of clean water at the district, the Ministry of Public Works and Housing will build a retention basin this year at several locations, including in various areas in Maluku, such as in Southeast Maluku and Southwest Maluku, as this region comprises small islands," he noted.