Karangasem Council Proposes Review of Spatial Plan, Deems Natural Exploitation Excessive
The Special Committee (Pansus) III of the Karangasem DPRD has proposed a review of Regional Regulation (Perda) Number 17 of 2020 concerning the Regional Spatial Plan (RTRW). The council considers the exploitation of natural resources in several areas to be excessive, causing more losses than benefits for the region.
The proposal emerged during a working meeting of Pansus III with several Regional Apparatus Organisations (OPD) responsible for licensing and spatial planning at the Karangasem DPRD meeting room on Thursday (2/7/2026).
"Our nature has been sufficiently exploited, so the damage is greater than the income obtained. Therefore, a study regarding the RTRW Perda is needed to make it more balanced," said Pansus III Chairman I Wayan Sumatra on Thursday.
He cited the Telaga Waja area in Selat District, which should be preserved for its sanctity. However, according to him, the area is now filled with various activities, ranging from tourism attractions to excavation activities that impact environmental and infrastructure damage.
Sumatra invited all relevant OPDs to compile a study as a basis for revising the RTRW Perda so that exploitation in certain areas can be controlled.
"We cannot inherit environmental damage to our grandchildren later, so we hope the RTRW Perda is reviewed immediately so that there is no more natural exploitation in certain areas," said Sumatra.
In addition, Pansus III also highlighted the large number of unlicensed villas operating in Karangasem, particularly those built on agricultural land. The council requested that the relevant agencies conduct a thorough inspection of these villas. If they are found to lack permits, they should be assisted with licensing or penalised if the violations are severe.
Responding to this, Assistant I of the Karangasem Regional Secretariat, I Made Agus Budiyasa, stated that the local government is ready to conduct a study of the RTRW Perda. However, the study will begin with field identification to determine the areas experiencing the most serious exploitation.
"Later, we will jointly conduct a study of the RTRW Perda, so that there is no more excessive natural exploitation in certain areas," said Budiyasa.