The Success of Rebuilding the Belunak Tani Bridge

The Tani Belunak Bridge is one of the six infrastructures that were damaged and cut off due to the earthquake that hit the Lombok region 2years ago. The impact is access roads for farmers and access to transportation of agricultural products were blocked. Farmers have to use other roads that are very far from their land.

Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI) with the support of UNDP Petra carried out infrastructure development for the Belunak Tani Bridge in Sembalun Lawang Village, Sembalun District which was held in November 2020.

Behind the success of rebuilding this infrastructure, WVI also involved the community to become workers. The community also did not hesitate to provide voluntary assistance, such as providing excavators to repair temporary roads.

Satrah (40), a worker, took part in infrastructure development in Sembalun District. According to him, the community should help with this work, considering that the community will also use the infrastructure at a later date.

"We see that the target for the construction of this bridge is tight and if we only use our labor as workers to first repair the material entrance, then it will take a long time. So we held consultations with farmers and workers to find solutions and finally, we agreed to spend additional funds ourselves as a sense of our responsibility as the owners of this bridge. If we do not have a sense of mutual help, it will have an impact on village communities, especially farmers who own land because the only road access we use to get to the farm is this bridge," explained Satrah.

Through this initiative from the community, finally, the entrance to the materials was completed within 2 hours, and the construction was completed in 19 days.

"Thank you for the support of WVI and UNDP Petra who helped us in the reconstruction of this bridge. We farmers are very relieved and grateful because we have built a very magnificent bridge from WVI for our daily use of farming,” Satrah continued.

The benefit of rebuilding the bridge was not only felt by the workers, but also for the 84 households who become the direct beneficiaries. Now everyone can return to using the Belunak Tani Bridge.

This development is to assist the village government in carrying out the community livelihood restoration program.
 

Written by: Siluh Puspita, Lombok Earthquake Response Staff Wahana Visi Indonesia