Environmental impact analysis awaited
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)