The Riau Islands administration, the Social Security Management Agency’s occupational health division (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan) and stateowned Bank Mandiri are developing a 1-hectare forest in a workers’ apartment complex (Rusunawa) in Kabil, Batam.
As many as 338 trees will be planted in the area with a budget of Rp 2.25 billion (US$195,000). Some facilities, such as a fish pond, public toilets and a jogging track, have been built in the area.
“We hope the forest will help surpress the negative impacts of global warming in Batam, reduce air pollution and tackle the ground water problem,” Bank Mandiri president director Budi G. Sadikin said, adding the project was part of the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR), after the launch of the forest on Thursday.
President director of BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, Elvyn G Masassya, said the forest could serve as a social area for local workers.
The 10-hectare Kabil complex was established for people working in the Kabil industrial zone. It is the third residential area built by BPJS Ketenagakerjaan in Batam after the Lancang Kuning Batuampar and Mukakuning complexes.
