Agrarian Ministry Proposes Rp1 Trillion Budget For Land Procurement

Jakarta, June 5 (Antara) - The Ministry of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) is proposing a budget of Rp1 trillion for land procurement and infrastructure development in 2016. "We are proposing a significant amount worth Rp1 trillion in the budget for the procurement of land for agrarian reform and development," ATR/BPN Minister Ferry Mursyidan Baldan stated here on Friday. Minister Baldan held a working meeting with Commission II on agrarian affairs of the House of Representatives (DPR) to discuss the budget proposal on Thursday. He noted that the budget ceiling is not only intended for the ART/BPM ministry but also for other ministries, which are implementing programs related to infrastructure development. Baldan claimed to have communicated with the Ministry of Finance and the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) regarding the budget proposal. "The proposed amount does not reflect the sectoral budget but it also accommodates the budget to be used for other ministries, the Bappenas, the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry, and the Transportation Ministry. We emphasized on the need for funds for land procurement," he stated. The minister remarked that President Joko Widodo has ordered the arrangement of budget based on the priority programs.