Govt formulates four measures for Lapindo?s mud problem

A special government meeting led by Vice President Jusuf Kalla late Thursday formulated four measures that can be taken for the next three months in solving PT Lapindo Brantas? mud problem, Kompas daily reported.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro afer the meeting disclosed the four measures were first, ensuring the safety of affected residents and providing adequate compensation; second, ensuring that the basic infrastructure, such as the toll road and railway line, can work well; third, all of the steps taken should not have an adverse impact on the environment and fourth, all of the related costs should be born by Lapindo.

A temporary dam set up to prevent hot mud from flowing to nearby villages collapsed Thursday, forcing some 5,600 villagers to be evacuated and hampering people?s access to Surabaya and a part of the railway track linking Malang and Surabaya.

Lapindo workers with the help of villagers and army members managed to re-erect the dike at 12.30 in the afternoon.(*)