House throws weight behind Ladia Galaska project

P.C. Naommy, Jakarta

The House of Representatives is throwing its weight behind the controversial Ladia Galaska road project despite an outcry from environmentalists.

"It's clear that the project has been planned in the interests of the Aceh people as it is based on requests from 20 regents and 20 municipal council speakers in the province," said Karimun Usman, the chairman of House Commission IV's resettlement and infrastructure subcommittee on Wednesday.

Karimun said the Commission had also agreed to allocate some Rp 200 billion for the construction of the road out of next year's budget. The budget proposal is currently being deliberated by the House's central budget committee.

Karimun made the remarks on the sidelines of a meeting on Wednesday between the commission and a coalition of non- governmental organizations opposing the road scheme.

Karimun said the project was needed to open up isolated rural areas and to improve the economic lives of people in Aceh.

The government argues that the 470-kilometer road, which will link the west and east coasts of the province, will stimulate economic activity in the province's western coastal areas.

Environmentalists in Indonesia and abroad are concerned about the adverse effects of the project as it will run through 100.16 kilometers of protected forest, and cut through 1.5 kilometers of conservation forest, including the Leuser Ecosystem.

The coalition of NGOs questioned House Commission IV's decision to back the project.

"We don't want a decision that is detrimental to the people of Aceh," said Longgena Ginting, chairman of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi).

Longgena said the House members should be willing to issue a joint statement stating that they are prepared to be held responsible for any adverse consequences that arise from the project.

Longgena added that if the project were really being undertaken in the interests of the public, it should comply with the prevailing legislation. As an example, he cited the lack of a comprehensive feasibility study.

Law No. 23/1997 requires a feasibility study to be undertaken prior to the start of any project that could have a significant effect on the environment.

The project management failed to conduct a feasibility study before starting the project in 2002. The study was only published a year later.

Asked about the legal violations that had occurred, Karimun said that the road project was "an exception" as it was meant to benefit the people of Aceh.

"If corruptors are able to get pardons, how come the minor oversights that occurred in the case of this project can't be pardoned? Especially given that it is being undertaken for the sake of the public," said Karimun.

During the meeting, the coalition also asked the Commission to suspend the approval of Rp 200 billion in funding for the project accountability report.