Local up in arms over lake reclamation project

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post/Tangerang

Residents of two housing complexes in Pondok Benda, Pamulang district, here, have expressed their opposition to the reclamation of Tujuh Muara lake, which is located near the complexes, for fear of floods and drought.

"When we bought our homes here several years ago, the lake served as a catchment. If it is reclaimed, we are afraid it will cause flooding in the rainy season and drought in the dry season," a resident of Vila Pamulang housing complex, Ramdany, said recently.

"We have delivered our complaint to the developer, but received no response," he added.

Residents of the adjacent Reni Jaya housing complex expressed similar fears.

"I think our concern is reasonable. With the lake as it is, our houses are always flooded during the rainy season. If it is reclaimed, where will the water go?" said Achmadi, a resident of Reni Jaya.

The developer of Vila Pamulang has reclaimed almost half of the around 700-square-meter lake and started to build 10 new houses on the reclaimed area.

Concerned over the development, the residents staged a protest on Monday and Tuesday, demanding the construction be halted. They also asked Pamulang district officials to intervene.

Pamulang district chief Ashadi expressed worries over the reclamation project.

"As far as I know, the developer did not report its (reclamation) activities to my office. Neither did it seek to determine the status of the lake," he said.

"I will summon the developer for clarification. If they can't show us a permit for reclamation from the regental administration, we will take stern measures against them,"he added.

Tangerang Spatial and Building Layout Agency head Sahirul Fahmi Lubis confirmed the company had not applied for a permit. "We have not issued a permit related to the reclamation of Tujuh Muara lake in Pamulang,"he said.

Staff members of the developer's marketing office at the housing complex were not willing to comment on the reclamation project.