Jakarta (Antara) - The payout of compensation for the victims of the Lapindo mud disaster in Sidoarjo district, East Java, will start in June this year, Vice President Jusuf Kalla stated.
"The payout of compensation will start in June," the vice president remarked after overseeing the Presidential Security Guards Command Headquarters here on Friday.
Kalla noted that the compensation in the form of a government bailout is being given solely to benefit the people affected by the Lapindo mudflow disaster.
"Due to Lapindo's inability to pay the compensation, the government decided to handle it for the sake of the victims' interests by offering loans to them, and Lapindo will later return it in time," Kalla affirmed.
The government bailout, amounting to Rp872.1 billion for the Lapindo mud disaster victims, will soon be completed before the Lebaran festivity commences this year, Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono stated in a press release.
