Environmental study urged for Koridor Satrio

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)