Activists, scholars reject planned tourism project near Bosscha
Activists, scholars reject planned tourism project near Bosscha
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung, West Java
Environmentalists and activists called on the government on
Friday to prevent a tourist resort from being constructed on the
hilly Lembang area in North Bandung, saying that it would
adversely affect Bosscha Observatory and its surrounding area.
Prof. Otto Soemarwoto, a noted environmentalist from the
Bandung-based Padjadjaran University, said Bosscha Observatory --
which was erected in Lembang 80 years ago -- was a national asset
and must be protected.
Otto said that the planned construction would also damage
Bosscha's surrounding environment.
"The construction of the tourist resort will increase
pollution and detract from the quality of light in the area,"
Otto told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar here on the
protection of the environment surrounding the observatory.
The planned resort has also concerned astronomers in Bandung.
The story began when the regent of Bandung, Obar Sobarna,
issued a license to developer PT Baru Adjak in 2001, allowing the
company to build a resort in the vicinity of Bosscha Observatory.
The company planned to build the resort on 75 hectares of land
surrounding the observatory, including the construction of
hotels, villas and amusement centers.
Otto said that, if the developer insisted on turning the area
into a tourist spot, than it should be developed as an ecotourism
project.
"Cars and motorcycles would not be allowed to pass by the
area, only bicycles and horses... This type of ecotourism has
been developed along the Mekong river in Vietnam and in the
United Kingdom," Otto said.
Moedji Rahardjo, the head of Bosscha Observatory, previously
complained that the construction of a tourist resort, within a
radius of one kilometer from the observatory, would sharply
reduce the ability of Bosscha's telescopes as the lights of
buildings would increase the intensity of artificial light in
the night sky.
He acknowledged that some businessmen and local bureaucrats
involved in the project had noted this dilemma and had suggested
that the officials relocate the observatory.
However, Moedji said that the officials had refused the
suggestion.
Local environmental activist Mubiar Purwasasmita said that the
planned tourist resort could contribute to floods in the area.
"It will be an environmental disaster for Bandung city if
forest in the hilly Lembang area is destroyed to allow for the
development of a tourist resort," he said.
In a paper read out in the seminar, the Minister of
Environment Nabiel Makarim said that the operation of Bosscha
should not be disturbed by commercial projects.
Nabiel proposed that Bosscha, the developer and the regency
administration should negotiate in order to find the perfect
solution.