Karawang, W. Java (ANTARA) - Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono has said he believes that the program to revitalize unproductive (idle) ponds along the north coastal area (Pantura) of Java will bring economic benefits to the community.

The revitalization will target an area of 78 thousand hectares.

According to Trenggono, for every 10 thousand hectares of area, an initial development investment of Rp15 trillion would be required, which would later generate profits of up to Rp13.5 trillion per year.

He explained that the revitalization of less productive ponds will be carried out in stages from 2025 to 2029 in four provinces and 26 districts/cities, starting from the provinces of Banten to East Java.

The first stage of development will target 20 thousand hectares of ponds located on government-owned land in the areas of Bekasi, Karawang, Subang, and Indramayu.

Meanwhile, the ponds being revitalized in Karawang are spread over 2,548 hectares. Trenggono asked the local government to develop a land area of up to 10 thousand hectares, which will absorb up to 20 thousand workers.

"That is no less than 20 thousand workers who will be contributing here," the minister said while reviewing a potential location for revitalizing ponds in Karawang, West Java, on Thursday.

In Karawang, the government plans to cultivate saline tilapia fish and milkfish in two different clusters. Every cluster will consist of cultivation areas, supporting areas, and greening areas.

Trenggono assured that the pond revitalization program will prioritize ecological sustainability by emphasizing a sustainable cultivation system.

In carrying out this program, a wastewater treatment plant (IPAL) will also be built to process wastewater and vegetation planted outside the pond to function as a filter so that the water that flows back into the sea does not pollute the environment.

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Translator: Ahmad Muzdaffar Fauzan, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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