Sutiyoso insists on reclamation plan<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso stated on Monday that his
\nadministration would go ahead with the reclamation plan in the
\nnorthern coastal area of the city (Pantura), ignoring a new
\nenvironmental impact analysis on the project.<\/p>\n
He emphasized that the reclamation plan was the most obvious
\nway of dealing with the limited space available to cater for
\nfast-growing development in the city.<\/p>\n
\"Reclamation has been implemented successfully in many cities
\noverseas, such as Singapore and Tokyo. Why can't we do the same
\nthing here?\" Sutiyoso said after inaugurating a number of new
\nofficials at the city administration.<\/p>\n
The reclamation project has drawn strong opposition from
\nvarious parties who said that it would cause serious
\nenvironmental damage and spark social problems as it would worsen
\nflooding and affect thousands of people in the area.<\/p>\n
The reasons were confirmed by the result of the latest
\nenvironmental impact analysis (Amdal), which began in May last
\nyear.<\/p>\n
It shows a number of environmental and social problems. First,
\nthe reclamation project would cause an increase in sea level of
\nup to 12 centimeters.<\/p>\n
Second, it would spark social conflict as thousands of
\nfishermen in Kamal Muara, Muara Angke, Muara Baru and Kampung
\nLuar Batang could lose their jobs.<\/p>\n
Third, it would damage the marine ecosystem as some 330
\nmillion cubic meters of sand would be needed to reclaim the area.<\/p>\n
Finally, it would worsen pollution around the Thousand Islands
\nregency due to activities during the reclamation process and
\nduring the utilization of the reclaimed land.<\/p>\n
Following the results of the impact analysis, State Minister
\nof the Environment Nabiel Makarim issued a decree on Feb. 19, to
\nreject the project.<\/p>\n
Nabiel also urged President Megawati Soekarnoputri to issue a
\ndecree to revoke presidential decree no. 52\/1995 issued by former
\npresident Soeharto, which become the legal basis for the city
\nadministration to implement the project.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso, however, still said that the Amdal had given a green
\nlight to the reclamation project. He did not explain which impact
\nanalysis was meant, but he may have been referring to the
\nanalysis made soon after the project was introduced in 1995.<\/p>\n
Previously, executive chairman of the Jakarta Waterfront
\nManagement Board M. Sidarta said the Rp 20 trillion project
\nincluded 2,500 hectares of reclamation from the sea and the
\nrevitalization of 2,700 hectares of coastal areas.<\/p>\n
Sidarta said that the project, hoped to be completed within 30
\nyears, could improve environmental conditions in the area.<\/p>\n
The area produced by the reclamation project would be
\nallocated for luxury housing, hotels, condominiums, industrial
\nzones, business centers, super shopping malls, offices, seaports
\nand recreation venues.<\/p>\n
It was not only the Office of the State Minister of the
\nEnvironment that had opposed the reclamation plan.<\/p>\n
Resettlement and Regional Infrastructure Ministry director
\ngeneral for spatial planning Sjarifuddin Akil also rejected the
\nproject, saying that it would cause more problems in dealing with
\nflooding.<\/p>\n
He stressed that previously, even without the northern Jakarta
\ncoast reclamation project and the environmental damage it might
\ncause, the capital city had already been hit by huge seasonal
\nflooding in 2002, causing losses worth Rp 6 trillion (US$666
\nmillion).<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sutiyoso-insists-on-reclamation-plan-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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