SAMPIT - Recently, Mentaya river, East Kotawaringin, will be dredged. For the dredging project itself, Kotim regional government has made an agreement with a third party. Even for the cost of dredging itself, the regional government did not spend any penny, all of the expenses have been covered by the third party.

“The budget for dredging this Mentaya river is estimated to be Rp 250 billions, all of the costs are covered by a third party. During this pandemic, this dredging will not run without the assistance of the third party. We, the regional government, do not bear any cost.” said Mayor Kotim Halikinnor after MOU authorisation of dredging Mentaya river - Thursday 2nd September 2021.

For the dredging project itself, Kotim regional government was hand in hand with PT KSS (Kawan Selaras Sejahtera) and PT. AMS which are under the management of regional owned enterprises of Kotim.

“Within this dredging, we are hoping that the economy will increase significantly. During this time, Mentaya river is wide but shallow therefore it takes 6-7 hours to get through. Even more, while it is tide. If there is any 2000 tonnes ship, it has to have a controller. If not, then it will be grounded, “ said Halikin.

As there is a corporation with this third party, the shallowness of Mentaya river can be managed. Then, within the river toll, it is also useful to drive items distribution effortlessly from Kotim.

“Hopefully, next year I will be operated on by the river toll and also as the river is not yet shallow anymore, the items distribution will run smoothly. Insya Allah, some of the operations will use river tolls such as the distributions of primary needs and others, fertilisers and ferries will not be any obstacles,” he added.

While for its own income, Kotim regional government also gets revenue. Not only it is benefited by not using its regional budget, but also gets its profit from the dredging itself.

“The profit sharing is 50 : 50, we are both gained smooth distribution of the materials and services and also interest, so this is double profit, “ Halikin argued. (Cha/beritasampit.co.id).