House halts Dadap reclamation<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Unrelenting protests by fishermen and environmentalists against
\nthe reclamation of the north Tangerang coastline met with support
\nfrom House of Representatives members, who on Monday ordered
\nRegent Ismet Iskandar to stop the project.<\/p>\n
In a hearing with Tangerang officials, deputy chairman of
\nHouse Commission VII on environmental affairs Sonny Keraf
\nstressed that the regent should stop all reclamation activities
\nuntil the developers could guarantee that it would cause no
\nenvironmental damage.<\/p>\n
"We'll check whether an environment impact analysis was done
\nfor the project," he said.<\/p>\n
Sonny was the state minister of the environment in the Cabinet
\nof Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.<\/p>\n
Ismet previously explained that the reclamation of Dadap
\nvillage was for the establishment of a tourist resort equipped
\nwith hotels, restaurants, apartments and sports facilities.<\/p>\n
He said the project, which began mid-last year, was being
\ncarried out by three major developers -- PT Kosambi Harapan
\nUtama, Wisata Pasir Putih Kosambi Cooperative and PT Parung
\nHarapan.<\/p>\n
At the time of the hearing, 70 fishermen who operate in Dadap
\nBay staged a rally outside the House compound, protesting the
\nreclamation project, which they said had caused a reduction in
\ntheir incomes.<\/p>\n
Abiddin, one of the fishermen, welcomed the House's standpoint
\non the matter, saying the project had forced him to fish farther
\nout to sea.<\/p>\n
"Before the reclamation, we could catch fish just 100 meters
\nfrom shore, but now we have to travel over one kilometer farther.
\nThe project costs us more in operational costs," he added.<\/p>\n
Other fishermen have left their jobs and become scavengers to
\nearn a living.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-halts-dadap-reclamation-1447893297",
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