According to PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, the Kotaku program is a form of collaboration between the PUPR Ministry and the local government to encourage and empower the community as development actors, especially small-scale infrastructure or simple jobs that do not require technology, starting from planning, implementation and supervision.
"Slum area arrangement like this is also not only carried out in residential areas along rivers but can also be in other places such as near garbage dumps and densely populated villages in urban areas," he said.
The GKL area arrangement itself is carried out by the Ministry of PUPR through the East Java Regional Settlement Infrastructure Center (BPPW) of the Directorate General of Human Settlements with a budget of Rp. 38.3 billion. The implementation of this arrangement has been carried out since the end of 2021 and is targeted for completion in August 2022.
Technically, the arrangement of the GKL area includes Arab Villages, Colonial Villages, and Chinatown Villages. The concept of structuring the Arab Village area is expected to encourage the development of religious tourism which becomes one unit with the Tomb of Sheikh Maulana Malik Ibrahim.
In addition, there is the Colonial Village area which will become a single unit and be integrated with the Packaging Village and Arab Village as well as Chinatown Village. The scope of the arrangement includes urban drainage works, earthworks, granulated and cement concrete pavements, asphalt pavements, structures, restoration of conditions, and minor works as well as boreholes.
Head of East Java BPPW Muhammad Reva said, in addition to changing the face of the Gresik heritage area into one of the tourism icons of Gresik City, this arrangement also aims to reduce puddles in Gresik District. "Currently the area is cleaner and pleasing to the eye so that it will add comfort to the community and those who visit here," he said.
Previously, the Gresik Regency Government had also completed the revitalization of the Chinatown area with typical Chinese ornaments such as public street lighting (PJU) with dragon ornaments.