Land reclamation to save outer islands in Riau Islands

The Jakarta Post, Batam, Riau Islands | Archipelago | Fri, February 22 2013, 3:06 PM

The Public Works Ministry is carrying out land reclamation work on Batu Berating Island in Riau Islands province with the aim of saving the country's outer islands.

“The land reclamation on the tiny island, which costs about Rp 9 billion (US$926,879), has been earmarked from the state budget,” Bakti, head of the water resources implementation unit at the ministry's Sumatra VI area, said in Batam on Thursday as quoted by Antara news agency.

The ministry is using a technique in which large rocks and boulders are set in gabion in the sea.

Batu Berating Island is one of two outer islands in Riau Islands province that are being restored by the Public Works Ministry using funds from the 2012 state budget. Other repair work has been conducted on Pelampung Island to reduce the rapid rate of erosion.

The land reclamation on Batu Berating is being carried out as during high tide, the island has become totally

submerged. After the reclamation work is completed, the island's land mass will be about 700 square meters at low tide.

Repair work has also been carried out by the ministry on the island's lighthouse.

Tommy, one of the ministry's officials, said the government aimed to repair six other outer islands in Anambas regency, Riau Islands province. (nfk)