Environmental study urged for Koridor Satrio
JAKARTA (JP): Developers planning to build a shopping and tourism belt along Jl. Prof. Satrio in South Jakarta are being urged to prepare an environmental impact analysis report.
Deputy Governor of Economic and Development Affairs Tb. M. Rais said yesterday that the analysis would help protect the project's surroundings from unexpected environmental impacts.
"With the analysis, we can prevent floods or severe traffic congestion from occurring in the area," said Rais without giving further explanation.
Environmental studies usually relate to how a project will impinge on different aspects of the environment, such as the dewatering impact, whether groundwater will be affected, workers' safety and welfare, traffic, noise pollution, air quality, and waste disposal.
According to the plan, the Koridor Satrio project will turn the 1.8 kilometer road into a high-class, environmentally friendly shopping and tourism center with modern shopping centers, hotels, convention and exhibition centers, restaurants, apartments, office buildings, indoor and outdoor recreation centers, sidewalk cafes, tourist information centers and art galleries.
The Rp 10 trillion (US$3.7 billion) project is expected to take up to 20 years to complete.
So far, nine private investors have declared an interest in taking part in the scheme.
The need for proper environmental impact analyses has been aired by councilors following the death of three construction workers in an accident at the Wisma Asiatic building site last week.
"We completely support the plan to transform the road into an international tourism and shopping belt, but, for the project's own benefit, we can't ignore necessary procedures," said councilor Ali Wongso H. Sinaga of the Golkar faction.
Ali, who heads the council's Commission D for development affairs, said the study should be submitted before construction started.
"We should stop the common practice of submitting environmental impact analysis studies after construction has been completed," he said.
"We don't want bad things, such as floods and traffic congestion, happening on this street because this Koridor Satrio project is widely expected to boost the city's image," he said.
Councilor Saud Rachman from the United Development Party faction said: "The plan to turn the street into a tourism and shopping belt will make it a major city landmark so developers should be very professional.
"This should include conducting environmental impact studies."
Friday's accident at Wisma Asiatic was given as the main reason for Governor Surjadi Soedirdja refusing to inaugurate the groundbreaking for the project last Sunday evening. (ste)