Toll Road Threatens Temples in Klaten

Government of Klaten, Central Java, toll road development plan worry Solo-Yogyakarta area will damage archaeological sites that have preserved its existence.

Klaten Regency and the Ministry of Public Works has mapped two alternative locations lane highways, namely the north and south of Klaten, which turned out to be across the area of protected sites. So says the Head of Planning and Development Agency (Bappeda) Bambang Sigit Klaten in Klaten, Thursday (5/8/2010), as quoted by Warta Kota.

"Regency is now confusion to give his decision because of two alternative plans toll project will cross the existence of archaeological sites or protected areas," he said.

If the toll road project through the northbound lane, said Sigit, it will cross the site and the Temple of Queen Boko Temple Sojiwan. While in the south there are many temples are included in the Prambanan complex, such as Sewu, Plaosan Lor, and the South.

"All the temples were still in the research and protected as objects of cultural heritage," he said.

The plan, he said, had been contained in the draft and the draft Regional Spatial (spatial planning) which has now been reviewed at the provincial level. In the draft of which contains the mapping of the northern region of Klaten path that will traverse the project, namely Sub Delanggu, Ceper, Kebonarum, Karangnongko, and Prambanan. While in the south is District Gantiwarno, Wedi, Kalikotes, and Trucuk.

In addition, he said, land acquisition for toll projects will siphon government funds are not small.

Nevertheless, it suggests the construction of a freeway is most appropriate to use the overpass. "Road overpass easier because minimal social conflict. In fact, to avoid the area of archeological sites," he said.

While the Head of Preservation and Utilization, Institute for Conservation of Archaeological Heritage (BP3), Central Java, Gutomo explained, the existence of archaeological sites are protected by the Act No. 5 of 1992 Objects of Cultural Property.

According to him, there is no history of the temple which was moved to the interests of road projects. Toll lane projects that could dibelokan to avoid sites of cultural heritage objects.