President Jokowi Promotes Eco-Friendly Infrastructure Development

President Jokowi inspects the elephant crossing at KM 12 of Pekanbaru-Dumai toll road, Riau province, Thursday (01/05). (Photo by: BPMI Presidential Secretariat/Laily Rachev)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Thursday (01/05) stated that infrastructure development in the country must pay attention to sustainability of the environment and wildlife.

“I continue to remind the importance of paying attention to the environment, as we are building Pekanbaru-Dumai toll road, there are six tunnels for elephant crossing,” President Jokowi said after inspecting the elephant crossing at KM 12 of Pekanbaru-Dumai toll road, Riau province.

According to the President, the efforts will also be carried out in other regions so that infrastructure development can be carried out without disturbing wildlife. “I think we will carry out tunnel constructions so the wildlife can use them to move to the other side,” he added.

In the meantime, Head of the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Center (KSDA) Genman S. Hasibuan added that the elephant tunnel is an adaptation measure to conserve wildlife near the toll construction since it divides the habitat of 76 Sumatra elephants into two.

“We from the KSDA Center of Riau are collaborating with state-owned construction company Hutama Karya in elephant tunnels development so that the elephants’ movements are not disturbed,” he said.

After the inspection, President Jokowi and entourages is expected to continue the Riau working visit to Rokan Hilir regency. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/AIT) (GWH/LW)