GOVT ALLOCATES RP15 BILLION FOR TANJUNG BATU PORT DEVELOPMENT

Pangkalpinang, Sept 20 (ANTARA) - The central government has set aside a budget of Rp15 billion from the 2008 state budget for the development of Tanjung Batu port supporting facilities and to smooth the flow of transportation in Belitung island, a legislator said.
Besides the Rp15 billion, the port would also receive rp7.5 billion from the Bangka Belitung province and another Rp2.5 billion from district administration budget, Azhar Romli of the DPR's Commission V which deals with transportation affairs said here on Saturday.
"So, the total funds for the development of the biggest port in Belitung Island will amount to Rp25 billion," he said.
He said that the Rp25 billion funds would be used to dredge the surrounding waters and the construction of modern supportive facilities in an effort to facilitate smooth access for ships to moor at the port.
"The entry of big ships into the port will automatically give positive impact to the people's economic activities in Belitung Island," he added.
The legislator who hailed from Bangka Belitung province (Babel) said he always tried his best to ask the central government's attention to the development in Babel province.
He said that besides the Rp15 billion for the Tanjung Batu port, the central government had also set aside Rp6.5 billion for the development of a terminal in Manggar, Belitung Timur district.