Walhi criticizes government over land reclamation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi)
\ncharged yesterday that the municipal administration's Jakarta Bay
\nreclamation plan is a shortcut taken without due attention to
\nenvironmental and societal impacts.<\/p>\n
\"There will be great changes in social, cultural and economic
\nstructures, as well as in ecology, due to the implementation of
\nthe reclamation project,\" M.S. Zulkarnaen, a forum executive,
\nsaid yesterday.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a seminar, Zulkarnaen explained that currently the
\ncity administration thinks that land reclamation is cheaper than
\npaying compensation for the establishment of new public
\nfacilities. He cited a lack of understanding that the cost of
\nland reclamation will be much greater in the end due to the
\ndamage caused.<\/p>\n
The two-day seminar, which was held by the study center for
\nhuman resources and environment of the University of Indonesia,
\npresented a number of experts from various fields from the
\nuniversity, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, the Navy and
\nthe environmental forum as speakers.<\/p>\n
The city administration plans to reclaim Jakarta Bay to gain
\nan additional 8.5 square kilometers of new land for the
\nestablishment of a waterfront city.<\/p>\n
Concept<\/p>\n
Currently the city administration is reviewing its concept of
\nland reclamation. An environmental impact analysis is also being
\nprepared for the project.<\/p>\n
Martono Yuwono, an official of the Jakarta Development
\nPlanning Board, told participants of the seminar that the city
\nadministration is still studying every aspect of land reclamation
\nso as not to hurt the environment and the public.<\/p>\n
Martono said that the land reclamation is designed to help
\nsolve problems relating to the shortage of land.<\/p>\n
He said that similar land reclamation projects have been done
\nby private institutions in Pantai Indah Kapuk, Pantai Mutiara and
\nSunda Kelapa.<\/p>\n
\"There is nothing wrong about the city administration's using
\nthe opportunity to take advantage of land reclamation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The administration will implement a cross subsidy policy to
\nfinance the construction of the project,\" he said without giving
\ndetails.<\/p>\n
He added that currently several gubernatorial decrees
\nregarding the cross subsidy policy have been issued.<\/p>\n
P.L. Coutrier, an executive of the Agency for Environmental
\nControl, urged the city administration to conduct a thorough
\nstudy since land reclamation will affect the environment,
\nespecially mangrove forests and sea creatures.<\/p>\n
\"It is also important to conduct an integrated environmental
\nimpact analysis because this is a huge project,\" P.L. Coutrier
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He explained that since the project will take at least 15
\nyears, the analysis should be completed as soon as possible to
\nexplore its feasibility. (yns)<\/p>",
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