Environmental impact analysis awaited

JAKARTA (JP): The North Jakarta Reclamation Board's chairman has urged developer PT Kapuk Indah Naga of the Salim Group to submit soon the environmental impact analysis on the planned reclamation in North Jakarta Bay.

"We expect the developer to complete the analysis soon, to enable us to study it before allowing the developer to start its reclamation work," Sidarta said on Saturday.

Earlier, he said that the board, which signed a development agreement with the developer in July, expected the developer to complete the environmental impact study within three months.

He said once completed, the study constitutes one of the factors which determine whether the project will harm the environment. Other factors include the project's financial plan and technical design.

"We don't want the project, which is expected to help improve the city's appearance and boost Jakartans' prosperity, to cause environmental degradation to its surroundings," said Sidarta.

Under the development agreement, the Salim Group will do reclamation work covering 674 hectares north of Pantai Kapuk. The project, which is scheduled to be completed within 15 years, is expected to preserve mangrove forests on North Jakarta coast.

Besides the study, Sidarta also urged the developer to complete the project's technical design.

"The developer can't start reclaiming the land if it doesn't have technical details on its developments," said Sidarta.

Both the analysis and technical design are subject to the board's approval, he said.

"By completing the study and technical design, it doesn't mean we will accept it just like that. The board can turn them down if they don't meet its requirements," Sidarta said.

Warned

Environmental groups and councilors had earlier warned that the whole reclamation project, which will cover 2,700 hectares, could upset the ecological balance of Jakarta's coastline and cause worse flooding.

The project, which will consist of residential buildings, business properties and recreational and tourist attractions, is to stretch 32 kilometers along Jakarta Bay, from Pluit in the west to Cilincing in the east.

The Salim Group is among private developers given permits to join the project after a presidential decree issued in 1995.

Some developers had begun work before the decree was issued, when only individual studies were compulsory for each project.

These include a 500-hectare housing and business project in east Ancol by PT Manggala Karya Yudha in cooperation with state- owned port managing company PT Pelindo II.

The project, which is led by Siti Hutami E. Adiningsih, President Soeharto's youngest daughter, is expected to be completed in 2002. (ste)