Govt to review controversial highway project in Aceh

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.