PLN, Banjarnegara adm told to settle compensation
Friday, July 21 2000 - 04:00 AM WIB
The Central Java legislative body has asked state electricity company PT PLN and Banjarnegara administration to settle compensations to local people whose lands are appropriated for a water-powered power plant in Mrica in Banjarnegara district.
According to the secretary of the legislative body's commission D, Ali Mansyur, many villagers whose lands were used for the power plant had not get a fair compensation.
"The power project had been built since 1980s, but until now the compensation case has never been solved, although it has been brought to the court," he said in Semarang on Thursday.
"PLN as the operator of the power plant and the Banjarnegara administration must negotiate with the villagers so that the power plant will really benefit the people," he added.
The Mrica power plant, tasked by the government through PLN and developed by Pembangkit Hidro Jateng, uses water in Serayu river as its source of power and covers areas in four sub-districts, namely Bawang, Wanadadi, Banjarmangu and Banjarnegara.
The project took over productive lands from farmers, covering an area of 15.199 million square meters owned by 5,963 villagers spreading in 32 villages.
PLN and the Banjarnegara regency paid below-par compensation to the farmers, with Rp 1,175 per square meter of rice fields, 880 per square meter of dry lands and Rp 595 per square meter for lands in the river banks. (*)