Government pays $3.76b for land in 77 strategic projects
“The projects’ development over the next five years is expected to involve a total of 19 million [workers],” Airlangga said.President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has raised concerns over land acquisition for strategic national projects and has asked ministers to solve the problems quickly.“I have received reports that the biggest obstacle [in strategic national projects] is land acquisition,” Jokowi said on May 29. He asked ministers to accelerate the projects to speed up the nation’s economic recovery.Jokowi ordered the acceleration of programs that could fuel the economy, such as the land certification program, the transmigration land legalization program and the social forestry program. “I would like to ensure that these programs continue as planned,” he said.Topics : The agency, which is responsible for the reimbursement of state-owned companies for land acquired in strategic national projects, has paid Rp 22.24 trillion to toll road operator PT Jasa Marga, Rp 11.88 trillion to construction company PT Waskita Karya and Rp 6.35 trillion to construction firm PT Hutama Karya.Basuki said the agency had procured land worth a total of Rp 4.38 trillion from March 16 to June 24 – during the coronavirus pandemic. He said the agency would continue to reimburse funds to help companies endure depressed toll road traffic.The government has said it will continue the development of strategic national projects during the COVID-19 health crisis with the addition of 89 projects with an estimated investment value of Rp 1.42 quadrillion.Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto said recently that the new projects were an addition to the existing 223 strategic national projects and were expected to employ about 4 million additional workers each year from 2020 to 2024. The Finance Ministry’s State Asset Management Agency (LMAN) has reimbursed Rp 53.3 trillion (US$3.76 billion) owed to state-owned companies for land acquisition in 77 strategic national projects, including toll roads and irrigation systems, as of June 24.The agency paid Rp 47.7 trillion for land acquisition in 40 toll road projects, Rp 3.5 trillion for 25 dam projects, Rp 1.3 trillion for seven railway projects and Rp 539 billion for a port project, LMAN president director Basuki Purwadi said on Friday.“The government’s commitment to build infrastructure will continue as it does not only boost economic growth but also creates jobs and connects regions,” Basuki told reporters in an online press briefing, adding that the government was hoping to improve the reimbursement process.
BAR HARBOR — After a frustrating loss early last week, the Mount Desert Island girls’ soccer team has completely flipped the script.In their home opener last Monday, the Trojans fell to a 5-1 loss against visiting Hermon. That contest saw MDI make a number of key mistakes both offensively and defensively, and the team has since been working tirelessly to get better at both ends of the pitch.“We’ve been working on refining our movement and possession as well as our combination passes and our touches instead of just ball-watching,” head coach May Dow said. “We need to be able to be there and capitalize on opportunities that come to us.”In the three games since that bitter defeat, MDI’s improvements have been evident. Blowout wins last Wednesday over George Stevens Academy, Saturday over Old Town and Tuesday over Brewer have seen the Trojans excel in front of goal while neutralizing their opponents’ offensive threats.This is placeholder textThis is placeholder textOn Wednesday, MDI produced a dominant effort all around to defeat GSA 9-0. The Trojans got five goals and three assists from Daisy Granholm, two goals from Lelia Weir, one goal and one assist from Zoe Olson, one goal from Jaiden Scott (her first varsity goal) and one assist each from Sophia Anderson, Cadi Howell and Julia Rush.MDI was back in action again Saturday and breezed to a 7-0 victory in a Class B North showdown against Old Town. Granholm had four goals and one assist for the Trojans, and Weir (two goals and two assists), Hannah St. Amand (one goal) and Mei Cook and Rachel Leonard (one assist each) also contributed offensively in the win.Mount Desert Island’s Lelia Weir scores from near midfield during a high school girls’ soccer game against Old Town on Sept. 14 in Bar Harbor. The Trojans are in third place in Class B North after wins over George Stevens Academy, Old Town and Brewer. NELSON GOODWIN PHOTOThe Trojans’ first goal against Old Town came as Weir found the back of the net on a long-range strike from near midfield. That goal seemed to ignite MDI, which went on to score four more first-half goals en route to another home victory.“[Lelia] sometimes makes it look so effortless,” Dow said. “She’s a very technical player, and she sees the field well. When you add in the range she has, she’s even more of a dangerous weapon for our team to have.”MDI earned yet another win Tuesday with a 6-2 road victory over Brewer. The Trojans got four goals and two assists from Granholm, one goal and one assist from Cook, a goal from Zoe Olson and one assist each from Weir and Hannah St. Amand in the victory over the Class A Witches (0-4).MDI also enjoyed strong play from its defenders and goalkeepers in all three wins. The team tried a number of different defensive combinations against GSA and Old Town and gave both goalkeepers, Sabine Costello-Sanders and Haley Leonardi, opportunities in net.“We have a couple new girls in our back line this year, and it takes a team effort on that back line with everyone rotating in,” Dow said. “In that Hermon game, we didn’t do a good job of clearing balls out of our 18[-yard box], but in the past few games, we have.”The Trojans, now 4-1 on the season, will face John Bapst (1-2) at 4 p.m. tomorrow, Sept. 18, at the University of Maine. MDI will then get five days of rest before taking on Caribou at 4 p.m. next Tuesday, Sept. 24.Those games are big ones for a third-place MDI team looking to maintain its position near the top of Class B North. Dow thinks this year’s field is as competitive as ever, and with only 10 teams eligible for the playoffs this season rather than 14, there is little margin for error.“Every game is going to count, and we have to come ready to play every night,” Dow said. “For us, what helps is that our team dynamic right now is in a really good place right now. There’s no drama with this group, and they want what’s best for each other.” Bio Mike MandellMike Mandell is the sports editor at The Ellsworth American and Mount Desert Islander. He began working for The American in August 2016. You can reach him via email at 
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