Digging of steep slopes spells disaster for many<\/p>\n
By Putu Wirata<\/p>\n
DENPASAR (JP): This year has seen two big landslides on the
\nisland of Bali which claimed many lives. In January, 40 farmers
\nwho were repairing irrigation canals in Timbul hamlet, Apuan
\nvillage, Tegalalang district, were buried when a landslide hit
\nJelijih hill. Two weeks ago, a large landslide in the village of
\nTaro, also in Tegalalang district, killed five people who were
\nquarrying rocks, which are used as building materials.<\/p>\n
After January's disaster, Gianyar regent Tjokorda Gde Budi
\nSuryawan warned the people to temporarily digging on steep slopes
\nbecause heavy rains during the month had eroded hills across the
\nisland. And the situation in villages in the Tegalalang district,
\nwhich has many ravines, is very critical.<\/p>\n
However, amid the economic crisis many people do not think of
\ntheir personal safety if there is an opportunity to earn money.
\nThe Jakarta Post observed that rock quarrying occurs from
\nCampuhan village to Lodtunduh village in the Ubud district, which
\nis crisscrossed with deep ravines. In gorges more than 50 meters
\ndeep, at least a dozen people cut rocks to make bricks. These
\nbricks are sold to carvers and sculptors and they also serve as
\nbuilding materials.<\/p>\n
"I have been quarrying for more than five years. I am lucky it
\nhas been safe for me. My friends and I make daily offerings
\nasking God for safety before we start digging," said a worker at
\nCampuhan Ubud village.<\/p>\n
"I heard the news of the landslide at Timbul village. I was
\nfrightened, but life is in God's hands," he said.<\/p>\n
The topography of Ubud, Payangan and Kintamani is full of
\nravines and gorges which should be protected and preserved, but,
\nironically, attract investors looking to profit from the natural
\nresources of the area. Many of the investors build houses for
\nexpatriates on the slopes of the hills which face the river or
\nrice fields. The topography is also a natural commodity sold by
\nrestaurants and hotels around Ubud, Payangan and Kintamani.<\/p>\n
The steep ravines around Sanggingan and also Campuhan Ubud --
\nwhere museums, galleries, restaurants, hotels and villas abound
\n-- are also quarried by rock diggers who have been exploiting the
\nnatural resources for years.<\/p>\n
The buildings which form a line along the western slope of
\nBanjar Sanggingan and Campuhan Ubud seem to teeter atop these
\nsteep slopes which could collapse at any moment in landslides
\nmuch like the one which hit Timbul.<\/p>\n
However, people continue to build on these slopes because the
\nview from Campuhan to Sanggingan, Ubud is sublime. Apart from
\ndeep ravines with grassy slopes, a giant hill looms like a
\nsleeping animal. Even Gunung Agung, in the eastern most part of
\nBali, is visible on a cloudless day. It was in Campuhan Hotel,
\nhigh above a deep ravine in the area, that the King of Ubud gave
\nWalter Spies a place to stay in the 1930s.<\/p>\n
Sanggingan village<\/p>\n
People have been building houses and hotels atop ravines and
\nsteep slopes for years. Hotel Campuhan was built in the 1930s
\nunder the rule of Tjokorda Gde Agung Sukawati. Perhaps there was
\nno law to limit the use of ravines at the time. The trend
\ncontinued after Indonesia's independence.<\/p>\n
Environmental law actually forbids building on ravines with a
\ncertain declivity. But which official was up to upholding the law
\nduring the New Order regime? The result is frightening.
\nBeautiful, terraced rice fields at Sayan, Kedewatan and Payangan
\nand Ubud have become overrun with structures.<\/p>\n
"I like to sit and drink here. A steep hill is visible across
\nfrom me. Sometimes I can also see Gunung Agung," said Rossy, an
\nIrish woman who works as a consultant for a museum in Ubud.<\/p>\n
Take for example the Tjahaya Dewata, Kupu-kupu Barong,
\nWulandari (under construction) and the Four Seasons Sayan hotels.
\nThey have been built on slopes facing Tukad Ayung, which are
\nsurrounded by terraced rice fields of unsurpassed beauty. The
\nbillion rupiah hotels have foundations of reinforced concrete to
\nward off earthquakes or erosion of the steep slopes.<\/p>\n
"The declivity of the land is steep here. But the hotel has
\nbeen designed by an expert who also takes the possibility of
\nerosion into account. With an investment of billions of rupiah in
\nthe hotels we will reckon with erosion," said a member of the
\ncompany which is building Hotel Wulandari.<\/p>\n
However, Bali environmental observer Nyoman Gelebet questions
\nthe Gianyar regional administration's policy of issuing permits
\nto construct hotels on slopes which should be protected.<\/p>\n
"Because investors are eager to build on ravines which should
\nbe left untouched and protected, and officials approve the
\nprojects, it remains to nature to teach people a lesson.
\nCriticism by environmental activists is considered a mere passing
\nwind," he said.<\/p>\n
So far there have been no reports of hotels or restaurants
\nbuilt on the edges of ravines collapsing because of soil erosion
\nin the Ubud region. Let's just hope such a disaster never occurs.<\/p>",
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