Kura-Kura SEZ: Managers Urged to Prioritise Environment and Residents

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Member of DPR RI Commission VII Novita Hardini has asked the managers and local government to prioritise environmental mitigation and the fulfilment of residents’ rights in the Kura-Kura Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Serangan Island, Bali. “During my visit, I asked about water mitigation. Such grand development must not take away the water rights of the surrounding community. Currently, they say they are not fully ready, and it is our task in DPR RI to continue pushing the government and related partners to act as ‘guardians’ for this SEZ so that preparations are thorough,” Novita said in an official statement in Jakarta on Wednesday. She also stated that during the working visit to the Kura-Kura SEZ in Bali, she appreciated the project for developing Indonesia’s tourism image on the international stage, while providing critical notes on natural resource management and environmental impacts. The legislator from the East Java VII electoral district mentioned that the grand design of Kura-Kura Island SEZ is one of the strategic efforts to curb economic leakages, related to facilities for education, health, and world-class shopping centres. Although supporting it from an economic perspective, she reminded that this development uses funds from people’s taxes, so the principle of justice for local residents must be the top priority. Furthermore, she emphasised the importance of community involvement in zone management so that economic benefits are not enjoyed only by certain parties. One serious concern is the mitigation of the groundwater crisis currently affecting Bali and various regions in Indonesia. In addition to water issues, she highlighted the potential impact of construction waste on the marine ecosystem, given the project’s location directly bordering the waters. She asked for detailed attention to the technical management of sedimentation and liquid waste to prevent sea pollution or to mirror the success of waste management in Sanur and Nusa Dua. “We must not focus only on short-term economic aspects, for example, only for the next 5-10 years. We want sustainability. Do not let there be disasters or droughts due to development that neglects environmental aspects. The economy must go hand in hand with natural preservation for the people’s interests,” she said.