Tanjungpinang, June 23 -- Indonesia's Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has begun topographic surveys at 82 proposed sites in Riau Islands Province for the Red and White Fishing Villages (KNMP) program, a national initiative to modernize coastal communities.

"A topographic survey is a mandatory requirement for preparing detailed engineering designs under the KNMP program," Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad said in Tanjungpinang on Tuesday.

The surveys cover 17 locations in Natuna, 18 in Lingga, 10 in Bintan, 20 in Anambas Islands, nine in Karimun, and four each in Tanjungpinang and Batam.

Ansar urged all stakeholders to actively support efforts to accelerate KNMP development across the province.

He said district heads and mayors w...