Dadap people seek way to halt reclamation

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

A group of 4,000 Dadap residents in Tangerang, Banten, have appealed for a second time on Wednesday for the House of Representatives to halt the ongoing reclamation of the village's beaches, which they say has detrimentally impacted the environment.

"Coral reefs, marine life and mangrove forests have been destroyed because of the reclamation," said the leader of the group, Gatot Yan. "Hundreds of fishermen have also lost their jobs."

According to Gatot, the reclamation project is being carried out by two companies, PT Koperasi Wisata Pasir Putih and PT Parung Harapan, with the intention of transforming the village's coastline into tourist resorts, upscale beachfront residential properties, and warehousing facilities.

Chairman of Banten Environment Watch, Kholod Ismail, said that because of the reclamation the village now flooded nine days in every month.

"The water reaches the hips of an adult," said Ismail on Wednesday, who was also present at Tuesday's hearing with the House's Commission VII that oversees environmental issues.

Ismail said that the commission had issued a recommendation that the reclamation be stopped to Tangerang Regent Ismet Iskandar last month. However, according to Ismail, the administration allowed the projects to continue.

"We can only rely on the House, because the Tangerang administration and the regental council cannot be expected to do anything at all," said Ismail.

Legislator Wati Amir, who chaired the hearing, said that the regent had told them during last month's meeting that local residents supported the reclamation.

"But now it seems that was a lie," said Wati Amir, who added that the commission would visit the site in an effort to find a solution to the problem before the one-month recess that starts on March 25.