Reclamation dispute continues<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The dispute between State Minister of the Environment Nabiel
\nMakarim and Governor Sutiyoso over the reclamation of the
\nnorthern coastal area will likely continue as they do not see
\neye-to-eye on the plan.<\/p>\n
Nabiel had requested that Sutiyoso redesign the project, but
\nthe governor insisted on Wednesday that the giant project could
\nproceed only if the environmental impact analysis (Amdal) was
\nrevised.<\/p>\n
\"We will revise the Amdal based on their (the ministry's)
\nrecommendation,\" Sutiyoso said.<\/p>\n
He also claimed on Monday that Nabiel had approved the 2,700-
\nhectare reclamation plan for the city's northern coastal area.<\/p>\n
Nabiel, however, asserted that he had not changed his mind in
\nregards the project. He told reporters that the plan would be
\nimplemented only if the city administration redesigned the entire
\nproject and submitted a completely new Amdal.<\/p>\n
Nabiel also stressed on Tuesday the need for an integrated
\npolicy between Bogor and Jakarta to control the annual floods in
\nthe capital, and that this policy had to be developed before the
\nreclamation project could begin.<\/p>\n
Although Jakarta did not experience huge floods this year,
\nNabiel was still not convinced that the project, which would
\nrequire 330 million cubic meters of sand, would not cause
\nenvironmental damage in other areas.<\/p>\n
Nabiel said he had no intention to revoke Ministerial Decree
\nNo. 14\/2003, which rejects the reclamation project in North
\nJakarta, and instead stressed that the decree, issued in
\nFebruary, was final.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said a revision of the Amdal report would be
\nconducted by the city administration, particularly in regards
\nefforts to improve flood control in the city.<\/p>\n
However, he stressed that he could not do anything to improve
\nthe river catchments in upstream areas like Bogor, Depok and
\nTangerang, which are beyond his jurisdiction.<\/p>\n
According to the decree, the project would raise the sea level
\nto about 12 centimeters and damage the marine ecosystem, because
\nof the great amount of sand needed for the project.<\/p>\n
The project would also increase the pollution around Kepulauan
\nSeribu regency during the reclamation process and in the
\nutilization of the reclaimed land.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the project would spark social strife as
\nthousands of fishermen living in Kamal Muara, Muara Angke, Muara
\nBaru and Kampung Luar Batang would be rendered jobless.<\/p>\n
The reclaimed land from the project, which will be managed by
\nthe Jakarta Waterfront City Management (PB Pantura), would be
\nallocated toward luxury houses, hotels, condominiums, industrial
\nzones, ports, business centers, mega shopping malls, offices,
\nseaports and recreation areas.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/reclamation-dispute-continues-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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