City told to act in exploring Seribu islands

City told to act in exploring Seribu islands

JAKARTA (JP): The 104 islands grouped in the Seribu (Thousand)
Islands in the Java Sea could be a gold mine of revenue for the
city administration should the latter spend time exploring and
monitoring the area, an official said.

Speaking in a hearing at the city council on Monday with
councillors from Commission D on public works, environmental and
development affairs, head of the Jakarta Mining Agency Ali Rozi
said the city earned up to some US$12.18 million (about Rp 103.6
billion under the current currency rate) per annum from Seribu
Islands' oil and gas production alone.

"The oil and gas are produced by two foreign oil companies,
ARCO and YPF Maxus at Pabelokan Island, that produced 25,987
barrels of oil and 382,587 cubic meters of gas a day," he said.

In comparison, the ongoing April-December 2000 City Budget is
set at Rp 3.39 trillion.

"Besides, there are some 4.3 billion cubic meters of quartz
sand offshore (common on most of the islands) which have yet to
be explored," he told the councillors.

The meeting, led by the commission's chairman, Sayogo
Hendrosubroto of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) faction, was also attended by head of City Museum
Agency, Robert Silalahi, assistant of North Jakarta Mayor Alisten
Radjagukguk and head of the City Program Office D. Rahmat.

The hearing was aimed at examining and exploring the potential
of the islands in accordance with the city administration's plan
to upgrade the islands' status from a district to a regency.

Currently, the Seribu Islands are under the supervision of the
North Jakarta mayoralty.

Under its new status, the area would have its own authority
and would be held directly under the supervision of the Jakarta
Administration.

In the past, the vast area consisted of 110 islands.

Since 1985, six islands have sunk below the surface due to
water abrasion and land dredging used for building construction
in Jakarta.

"And now at least four other islands have been also threatened
by the water abrasion," said Robert Silalahi.

The islands -- Onrust, Bidadari, Cipir and Kelor -- have been
gradually eroding since 1911.

Onrust island, for example, has lost almost half of its
original size -- going from 12 hectares down to seven.

Its neighbor, Bidadari Island, has shrunk from 85 heactares to
6.5 hectares, Robert explained.

"The worst thing is that all of the four islands have been
home to many archeological sites that badly need to be maintained
and preserved.

Unfortunately, the islands are now under serious threat due to
erosion," he added.

The Martelo fortress on Onrust Island, for instance, has
already been badly damaged, Robert said.

According to Robert, many of the islands do not receive
adequate care and lack attractions that would lure tourists to
their destinations and bring in badly need money for conservation
efforts.

"The conditions on most of the islands are very poor. Tourists
are also reluctant to come because they find nothing to do
there," he said.

In order to prevent more sea erosion, the City Museum Agency
together with the City Public Work Agency has agreed to build
concrete blocks in combination with mangrove trees along the
coast of the affected islands.

The details of the work plan will be revealed soon.

Most of the councillors blamed the city administration and
North Jakarta officials for paying little or no attention to the
Seribu Islands, which have been widely known among world-class
travelers as being one of Indonesia's most attractive sites for
diving.

"I have even been told that head of the Seribu Islands
district seldom stays on the islands," said councillor Tjuk
Sudono from the National Mandate Party.

The commission chairman then summed up the hearing by calling
on the city administration to improve tourism development,
private sector contribution, the development of the mining sector
and put forth more effort in monitoring the islands.

According to Alisten from the North Jakarta mayoralty, 71
islands are already managed by private companies for various
activities, mostly involving tourist resorts and golf courses.

Meanwhile, several officials, including head of the Seribu
Islands National Park Achmad Abdullah, City Tourism Agency
Witjaksono Muwardi and head of archeology section at Jakarta
Restoration and Museum Agency Candrain Atahyat, suggested that
the city administration should stop chartering the islands to
private parties.

The officials were quoted as saying by Kompas on Tuesday that
the preliminary ownership of the individuals only damaged the
ecosystem in the area.

At least 37 islands have been developed into tourist and
entertainment resorts, it said.

"It's been suggested that the islands should not be managed by
individuals. But if it's the only option available, the appointed
parties should follow 1994 government regulation number 18 on
natural preserves," Achmad said. (09/bsr)