UGM Architect, Dr. Ir. Pradipto, along with 30 students cooperated with GP Ansor youth organization successfully completed 10 temporary housing building at Sudimoro sub-village, Adikarto Village, Muntilan, Magelang. The building is provided for people affected by cold lava flood who had previously lived in the vicinity of Kali Pabelan (Pabelan River). "These buildings are not only used for 1-2 years, they could be used for years to come as they have been built stronger, because we consider that the victims lost their homes and land," said Pradipto on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony on Monday (25/4).
Pradipto mentions the 10 elevated houses measuring 4x6 square meters each, occupying 1,500 square meters of land, costing Rp150 million. The building is 2x3 meters square tall, consisting of 2 floors, 3 bedrooms, 1 living room, and 1 kitchen. "We try to provide facilities so that they won’t become another victim (of the lava flood) during their stay there, therefore the buildings have been elevated," he said.
Since the construction of the buildings uses considerably strong materials, according to Pradipto, the building can be used up to five years, it’s even resistant to rain, wind, and earthquake. "It's a little different. All bamboo connections are connected using bolts with a very neat link, thus resistant to wind, rain, and earthquakes," he explained.
The construction that took up to 1.5 months was conducted directly by Pradipto involving 30 students from various faculties of UGM. "So, I involve students. There are 30 students involved in building process. They were invited as a volunteer," said the man born in Gunung Kidul, 29 October 1956.
Magelang Regional Secretary, Drs. Sutoyo, said that his office expresses their appreciation for the architectural team of UGM and GP Ansor for the development against cold lava disaster for affected people in the Magelang region. Moreover, so far Magelang is still in a state of disaster emergency response of Merapi eruption. "If other areas have been at the recovery phase, Magelang is still in emergency response," he added.
Sutoyo explains that the building was originally used for 1-2 years. After that, permanent residential buildings will be built for them. "After this, there will be research on disaster prone areas. If there is any region that cannot be inhabited again, then permanent housing for the IDPs will be built," he said.
Conversely, if the previously occupied land can be re-occupied, the government will help relocate the IDPs to the original residence. KKN PPM manager of UGM, Dr. Irkham Widiono, hopes the buildings are not only used for the accommodation, but also for teaching and learning activities in the process of coaching the victims of Merapi. "We expect the IDPs to be able to develop self-capacity in order to increase intelligence, heart and mind," he said.
The inauguration of the shelter was marked with symbolic delivery of house key by the Vice Chairman of GP Ansor, Nusron Wahid, Vice Chairman of the PBNU, As'ad Said Ali, and Dr. Irkham Widiono.