Reclamation makes fishermen scavengers<\/p>\n
Multa Fidrus
\nTangerang<\/p>\n
The ongoing coastal reclamation at Dadap fishing village,
\nKosambi, here, has forced hundreds of fishermen to turn away from
\ntheir profession and become scavengers.<\/p>\n
"Over the past two years, we had to become scavengers to
\nsurvive," Syawaludin, a member of the Association of Minabahari
\nFishermen, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Two developers started to reclaim the coastline in 2000
\nwithout legal permission from the regental administration.<\/p>\n
PT Koperasi Pasir Putih plans to build a five-hectare
\nrecreational and tourist resort, while PT Parung Harapan will
\nbuild a luxurious housing estate and warehouse complex on another
\nfive hectares of land.<\/p>\n
Syawaludin said that locals were told that the resort would be
\nlike Taman Impian Jaya Ancol in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
"Thus, none of us protested the project at that time. PT
\nKoperasi Pasir Putih also promised to build a special port for
\nfishermen," he said.<\/p>\n
While waiting for the promised port, the fishermen began to
\nrealize that they were losing earnings as the reclamation
\nactivities had far exceeded the coastline.<\/p>\n
"Fishermen used to easily catch fish within 100 meters or 200
\nmeters from the beach. Now, we must work longer hours, and that
\nis costly," he said.<\/p>\n
The projects have also destroyed mangrove forest, coral reefs
\nand marine life.<\/p>\n
Asman, said that he and his fellow fishermen had repeatedly
\ndemanded that the company build the port, but PT Koperasi Pasir
\nPutih's field supervisor told them to go to his boss in Jakarta
\nfor an answer.<\/p>\n
"We are tired of waiting for the port. We left the matter in
\nGod's hands. We want the regental administration to find a way
\nout of the problems that we are facing. We can no longer go out
\nto sea -- please, help us find good jobs," he begged.<\/p>\n
He said their income from scavenging bottles, plastic and
\nother recyclables was lower than what they earned as fishermen.<\/p>\n
Didin Syamsudin, head of spatial layout at the Tangerang
\nSpatial Layout and Building Agency, said the development of Dadap
\nbeach was unlawful.<\/p>\n
Regent Ismet Iskandar had even ordered his subordinates to
\nhalt the reclamation activities.<\/p>\n
"We have halted the reclamation projects because the companies
\ndon't have permits. They have not even filed an application with
\nthe environmental agency for environmental impact analyses," he
\nsaid on Wednesday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/reclamation-makes-fishermen-scavengers-1447893297",
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