SAMPIT - The arrangement of Mentaya riverside which is required by Mayor of Kotawaringin Timur (Kotim) Halikinnor will soon be accomplished. This is accredited by the MOU signature that was done by the Kotim regional government with the third party, PT. Kawan Selaras Sejahtera, Thursday 2nd September 2021.

Mayor Kotim Halikinnor said that this riverside management would be reassured continuously and Kotim would have river tolls.

“River toll will still be arranged by the corporation of the third party even though it is happening during this COVID-19 pandemic which makes the budget lessen, the toll management is still running. This is not only about conceptualisation of building the first marker of its infrastructure, but also it is an initiator therefore it is sustaining,” he said. Thursday, 2nd September 2021.

It is mentioned that the management of Mentaya riverside is approximately allocated about Rp 260 billions of the budget. That budget is covered by the third party. Moreover, it is perceived that recently the principal government and regional government itself have the least budget.

This riverside construction is to enhance the economy of the regional government. Furthermore, recently it is interpreted that commodities distribution traversed was delayed because of its shallowness. Mentaya river can only be passed through 6 until 7 hours in 1 x 24 hours - when the river was tidal. Therefore, the cost for those who are using that riverside would be quite high.

If the river toll is done, Mentaya river would be traversed 1 x 24 hours, even big ships can get through as the depth is managed. “If the dragging was done, the regional economy would be increased because the commodities distribution from outside regions run smoothly and the cost is lessened. Thus, the price of commodities is also reasonable.”

The capability of this Mentaya riverside was determined to have enough potential to make the regional economy grow excessively as Kotim itself has its own palm oil farm and mining industry using that riverside. Involving those cargo from Java island. “So, insyallah this will enlarge our economy significantly, “ he added.

While the director of PT Kawan Selaras Sejahtera, Rudi Urip Santoso, said that in 2018 his company got a contract from the Transportation Ministry to finish off the Mentaya riverside issues.

“We can imagine Kotim the greatest CPO miner for almost 6 - 7 million tonnes per year using riverside which works well and its distribution runs well, of course using new riverside, river toll, “ he said.

Consultant of that riverside construction was from windmill country, Holland. It was because that consultant was more understanding of its character and estimation.

The cooperation between his company and government, as it was written in its agreement on 13rd August 2020 which was facilitated by Kotim regional government for its dry retailers such as mining commodities and liquid retailers such as palm oil, his company will get US$ 0.5. While a 20 Ft container was US$ 5 and 40 Ft was US$ 10.

“Why use dollars as its standard? That was part of a deal because the investment rate in foreign currency, also that employees come from The Netherlands. However, the regional government does not have to pay using dollar bills. I am certain that if this river toll is finished, it will increase its regional economy, “ said Rudi.

(dev/matakalteng.com)

Source : https://www.matakalteng.com/daerah/kotawaringin-timur/2021/09/02/bupati-kotim-teken-mou-pengelolaan-alur-sungai-mentaya-dengan-pihak-ketiga