Puncak environmental damage upsets minister
Puncak environmental damage upsets minister
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja yesterday demanded that West Java Governor take stern measures against delinquent developers that are clearly destroying the environment in the Puncak hill resort.
Sarwono made his request yesterday after inspecting the current project to expand the safari park, Taman Safari Indonesia, in Cisarua, Antara reported.
The inspection revealed that developers are building in areas earmarked for the safari park expansion, clearly in an attempt to cash in on the park's increasing popularity as a gateway resort for people living in Jakarta.
The park's management explained that the construction of bungalows adjacent to it was destroying the surrounding environment.
Sarwono last month won assurances from President Soeharto that no developer is immune from the environmental law, no matter how strong they are financially or well connected politically.
The minister had earlier said that the provincial authorities were often reluctant to punish delinquent developers, who build in areas designated for environmental conservation purposes, because many had strong political backing.
Sarwono said in the case of violations in the Puncak area, which is also a crucial catchment site for Jakarta, the West Java authorities should prosecute the developers on the basis of the 1982 law on environmental protection.
The Cisarua safari park was licensed by the West Java Governor in 1993 to expand its area by another 70.5 hectares to support its function of conserving natural resources in the area.
But the expansion project has virtually stood still because some of the areas had been taken over by developers and land speculators. One real estate company has even completed constructing bungalows overlooking the safari park.
The presence of the safari park, inaugurated in 1990, has prompted people to build not only bungalows, but also restaurants and entertainment places adjacent to it to cash in on the attraction's booming business. (emb)