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Though the rebuilding of the Situ Gintung dam in Cirendeu subdistrict, South Tangerang, kicked off on Dec. 3, construction is progressing at a snail’s pace and a number of families remain in the dark about their expected relocations to make way for the multi-million-dollar project.

Part of the earthen banks of the Situ Gintung reservoir, built by the Dutch in the 1930s, burst in March, unleashing millions of cubic meters of water that left at least 100 people dead and destroyed more than 300 homes. Another 24 homes have since been marked for demolition for the reconstruction of the 21 hectare dam and spillway.

Hasanudin, who has lived in Cirendeu since 1984, owns one of the homes in the path of the intended spillway. He said he was counting the days until he was forced to relocate from his home, which also houses his food stall.

“I’m pretty sure that we’ll need to relocate soon because the project has started,” Hasanudin told the Jakarta Globe on Tuesday. “They’ll need to build roads for the construction vehicles to get in and out of the complex,” he said.

He said he was still waiting for suitable compensation for his property from the local government, “Enough for me to start a business on my own again.”

Surpiyanto, the deputy head of the neighborhood, said residents, both those directly and indirectly affected by the project, had received no information from the construction companies and were still waiting for a proposed meeting.

“But, we still don’t know exactly when the meeting will be held or when people will have to relocate,” Surpiyanto said.

Cirendeu Secretary Suharto Mardjuki acknowledged the public was entitled to know what was going on, saying they needed to be “well-informed and supported,” and said the regional administration was attempting to organize a meeting with the contractors, state-owned PT Nindya Karya and privately owned PT Bumi Karsa.

“But so far we haven’t heard anything from them,” he said.

Regarding the lack of activity at the site, Suharto said that although the construction was yet to begin in earnest, “the contractors have already completed the administrative phase.”

He blamed the slow pace of land acquisition not on disputes over the price of land, but because the owners weren’t home.

“The homeowners receive between Rp 400,000 to Rp 600,000 [$42.60 to $65.40] per square meter for their land,” Suharto said. “And that price is in accord with the local-taxed value of the land.”

Pitoyo Subandrio, the head of the Public Works Ministry’s Ciliwung-Cisadane Agency, said the replacement dam would be built with reinforced concrete.

“The new dam is designed to be much stronger than the one that collapsed,” Pitoyo said, adding that the reconstruction would be followed by the environmental restoration of the dam’s surroundings.

He said the spillway would be six meters wide, while its banks, dedicated for parks and rainwater absorption, would both be 10 meters wide.

“We need to demolish around 24 homes. The government spent Rp 6 billion in 2009 to compensate more than half that number and the rest will be done this year,” Pitoyo said.

The total budget for land acquisition was previously reported to be Rp 7 billion for 2009 and Rp 5 billion for 2010.

Pitoyo said he was optimistic the Rp 91.77 billion — not including relocation costs — project would be complete by December.