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)