Ideas wanted for master plan
Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh
Banda Aceh municipality has released a draft master plan for the reconstruction of the city, a third of which was destroyed by the tsunami disaster.
The draft master plan was designed by the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) after lengthy consultations with experts in the field. The administration is hoping for public input with a cut off date for comment of March 25.
The draft plan will divide greater Banda Aceh into nine zones, with those located in coastal areas designated as buffer areas where mangrove, pine and coconut trees will be planted.
"The buffer zone will act as a barrier to reduce the speed of tidal waves," Banda Aceh Mayor Mawardi Hasan told The Jakarta Post.
Zone 1 is designated as a buffer zone; Zone 2 as a restricted residential area; Zone 3 as a suburban residential area; Zone 4 is for fishing villages; Zone 5 is the old city center; Zone 6 is for a new residential area; Zone 7 is for the new city center; Zone 8 is for higher education institutions, and Zone 9 is designated for agriculture and farmers' houses.
The distance between Zone 1 and the seashore will be from 300 meters to 400 meters depending on land contour. Zone 2 will be specially equipped with refuge buildings to be used in case of another tsunami.
"To make the buffer zone a reality, we hope residents will be prepared to be relocated," Mawardi said.
The waterfront area, which was completely demolished by the tsunami, will be turned into Tsunami Park, a place for recreation and research.
The municipality hopes residents who are not from the fishing community, but who previously lived in Zone 1, 2, and 3, will be prepared to move to Zone 6 where new residential houses will be built.
"If they don't want to move, we won't force them," said Mawardi.
The Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) had earlier urged the government to accommodate fishermen's aspirations in the reconstruction master plan, as nearly all of them were directly affected by the tsunami.
"If two kilometers of the coast is planted with mangroves, will it then become a prohibited area for fishermen? What will become of them?" asked Bambang Antariksa from Walhi in Banda Aceh.
However, Walhi has offered a solution -- building houses for fishermen on the banks of rivers or escape hills for those who refuse to be relocated.
"The escape hill system will be applicable in hilly or cliff areas next to the sea, such as Leupung and Lhok Nga. The only thing that has to be built are escape paths to the hills that can be used in the event of another tsunami," he said.