Govt to review controversial highway project in Aceh

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri has ordered her ministers to review the planned construction of a road that will pass through Leuser National Park in Aceh.

"Ibu President is very concerned about the rampant destruction of forests in the country, and has therefore instructed the state minister of the environment and other ministers to review the road project," former minister of forestry Jamaludin Suryohadikusumo said at a seminar on Thursday.

Jamaluddin, in his capacity as the deputy supervisor of the Leuser International Foundation, met with Megawati recently to clarify the government's intention to build a road, called Ladia Galaska.

The road is supposed to connect isolated areas in western Aceh and eastern Aceh, thus facilitating the delivery of commodities and boosting economic activity in the areas.

But some of the planned road, such as from Jeuram to Beutong Ateuh and from Blangkerejen to Peureulak, will pass through Leuser National Park. Law No. 5/1990 on the conservation of natural resources, Law No. 41/1999 on forestry and Government Regulation No. 34/2002 on forest management ban any clearing of conservation areas, including national parks, for any purpose.

Environmentalists fear that the development of the Ladia Galaska road will trigger rampant illegal logging, which would trigger various natural disasters such as floods and landslides.

A large number of rare species in Leuser National Park could also be under serious threat of extinction if the road is constructed.

State Minister of the Environment Nabiel Makarim earlier said that he was against the road project.

"We support the construction of a road to give people in isolated areas access to the outside world, but it must not pass through Leuser National Park," he said.

His office has officially demanded that approval of the environmental impact analysis (Amdal) on the Ladia Galaska road project be delayed.

The local commission overseeing the Amdal has accepted the appraisal and planned to issue a letter of approval immediately.

The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) in Aceh said it had warned the local commission that it would sue if the road construction went ahead.

The Leuser Management Unit has also rejected Ladia Galaska project's environmental appraisal due to alleged inaccuracies.

It said the western route from Jeuram to Beutong Ateuh, which would cut through Leuser National Park, would cause the extinction of the Sumatran rhino, elephant and orangutan.

The road would also destroy several water catchment areas, which would interfere with irrigation in Jeuram regency, it said.

The eastern route from Blangkerejen to Peureulak, passing through Leuser National Park, would face the continuous threat of landslide due to its steep slope and destroy some 122,500 hectares of forest, it added.