Magelang, C Java (ANTARA News) - To accommodate the excessive cold lava stream that has inundated the Magelang-Yogyakarta main road in the past several days, government will build a new river.

Coordinating Minister for the People`s Welfare Agung Laksono said here Sunday the cold lava stream in the Putih River, Jumoyo village, will be divided in two river streams.

After the Mount Merapi eruption on October 26, 2010, cold lava flow at Putih River had cut off the Magelang-Yogyakarta main road eight times, including on Saturday (Jan 22).

The minister said that a temporary bailey bridge will be built over the new river.

Hopefully, the new river stream would accommodate the excessive cold lava stream and prevent it from overflowing the main road, Agung said.

Besides preparing the new river stream, recovery efforts would also be made to treat the cold lava victims of the Mount Merapi eruption.

"An economic recovery program would be conducted for the cold lava victims by saving the `Salak Pondoh` plantation under the coordination of the local administration," said Agung.

As for the cold lava victims who are now living in evacuation , temporary shelters will be built for them, and given donations, Agung said.

The recent cold lava floods have at least swept away 43 houses and caused 24 houses severely damaged, 18 lightly damaged, a member of Jumoyo village consultative body Sudiyat said.

Sudaiyat said that the community hailed the building of the river stream to anticipate the cold lava flood in Putih River. (*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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