Luxury hotel plan gets thumbs-down

DENPASAR, Bali: Plans to build a 2,000-room five-star hotel in Sendang Pasir, Buleleng, Bali, are in jeopardy because the local government believes the project violates land-use rules.

"The land permit (for the planned hotel) is for farming, therefore the property could not be used for a hotel. If the developer wanted to do so, it would have to change the land status first," Bali Governor Dewa Made Beratha said on Wednesday.

The developer, PT Ninusa Odi Jaya, also faces problems with permits.

"I have checked all of the (developer) permits. They have all expired," Dewa said. (50/edt)