Environmentalists say caution needed in Lampung reclamation<\/p>\n
By Dede A. Rizki<\/p>\n
BANDARLAMPUNG, South Sumatra (Antara): The area around Teluk
\nLampung strait is crowded with trucks, sand-and-brick carriers
\nand other heavy machinery used for a huge reclamation project.<\/p>\n
Whether for the building of hotels, motorboat wharfs,
\nwarehouses or luxury resorts near the shore, the Teluk Lampung
\narea is a constructor's delight, with environment appearing to be
\nthe least of considerations.<\/p>\n
As developers work on construction of the elegant housing
\nestate Waterfront City, critics claim the reclamation of 500
\nhectares of beachfront is the most recent and incessant attack on
\nthe strait.<\/p>\n
The project that started three years ago is nearing
\ncompletion.<\/p>\n
Research by the Lampung branch of the Indonesian Environmental
\nForum (Walhi) found the reclamation had caused erosion -- silting
\nup of the strait -- and damage to surrounding mangrove trees, sea
\nhabitat and seawater intrusion into freshwater sources.<\/p>\n
"The reclamation has gone 150-200 meters beyond the set
\nboundaries, even though it is forbidden to erect buildings beyond
\nthe beach borderline limit," said chairman of the Walhi Lampung
\nboard, Dedy Mawardy.<\/p>\n
"What is really worrying is the fact the beach is blocked up
\nwith silt from the strait."<\/p>\n
Conditions are exacerbated because there are no effective
\nmeans available in the area to combat the erosion.<\/p>\n
If the situation remains unchanged, it is feared the erosion
\nwill cause greater deterioration of the beach and surroundings.<\/p>\n
Harris Hasim, head of the provincial Regional Development
\nAgency disagreed.<\/p>\n
"When the projects are completed, they won't spoil but will
\nbeautify the area, because plans were done with thorough
\nconsiderations."<\/p>\n
He said people had made negative assumptions about the
\nproject.<\/p>\n
"Don't compare our projects to those in Jakarta which consume
\nthousands of hectares. This is a small thing," he said.<\/p>\n
Before land permits are granted, he said, investors were fully
\nbriefed on stated precautions and regulations to bar against
\nundesirable developments.<\/p>\n
The Agency is optimistic about the granting of rights to the
\ndevelopers upon completion of the project.<\/p>\n
Well<\/p>\n
"We are sure that upon seeing the results of the project, the
\nrights complete with stated precautions, will be granted to these
\ndevelopers," Harris said.<\/p>\n
People living near Teluk Lampung and areas around the west and
\nsouth of the Teluk Betung strait claim seawater is seeping into
\nwells and other water sources.<\/p>\n
"Before this reclamation project, well waters were clean and
\nnot salty. Now everything has changed for us, particularly during
\nthis dry season," said Solihin, a resident living south of Teluk
\nBetung.<\/p>\n
Research by the environmental study center at the University
\nof Lampung said seepage of seawater had reached a level of 2.5
\nmeters, and salinity in all the wells was one to four
\nmilliliters.<\/p>\n
"The normal salinity level in wells should be zero," said
\nchairman of the center, Manik.<\/p>\n
Fishermen who once had no trouble anchoring their boats near
\nthe shore are complaining they must now go farther off-shore.<\/p>\n
To the west of Teluk Betung, fisherman Muslim said that anyone
\nattempting to anchor near shore faced a hail of abuse from
\nreclamation workers.<\/p>\n
"Now things are so difficult. We are chased away by developers
\nwhenever we want to anchor our boats. The conditions were never
\nthis bad before."<\/p>\n
Complaints may increase after the project is completed.<\/p>\n
"I don't know what will happen to us once this resort is
\nfinished," Muslim said.<\/p>\n
There are other projects at several locations, including
\nextensions to a hotel and the Pelindo II pier.<\/p>\n
Regret<\/p>\n
Sources say the reclamation project is also intended for the
\nstorage of used materials, including wood, as investors are
\ngranted rights under a general justification that what is being
\nbuilt is a housing estate and therefore qualifies as a "public
\nutility".<\/p>\n
Several officials regretted the perceived insensitivity of the
\nprovincial government, the Bandarlampung municipality and the
\nparties allegedly involved in causing environmental damage.<\/p>\n
"It is fortunate that things have not worsened. It would be
\ngood if the government and the municipality think ahead...before
\nanything happens," said speaker of the provincial council,
\nKadarsah Irsa.<\/p>\n
He explained that granting of rights lay with the provincial
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
The allegations of seawater intrusion should be followed by
\nresearch and immediate action if necessary, he said.<\/p>\n
"Even the granting of rights to the investor, particularly the
\nEnvironmental Impact Analysis, or AMDAL, should be preceded by
\nstrict procedures and research, considering all environmental
\naspects that will adversely affect society in any way."<\/p>\n
He said there was a fundamental flaw to the approach.<\/p>\n
"Once a problem arises, we fight and blame each other. The
\nmain factor to focus on is that we should not allow these
\ninvestors to run after profit at society's expense."<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/environmentalists-say-caution-needed-in-lampung-reclamation-1447893297",
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