Reclamation needs Amdal

Reclamation needs Amdal

JAKARTA (JP): The government will continue to monitor the
environmental impact analysis (Amdal) being conducted in relation
to the planned reclamation project along the northern coast, an
official said. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2010.

Pl Coutrier, from the Environmental Impact Management Agency
(Bapedal) said yesterday that analysis regarding the reclamation
process will take a long time to complete and should be closely
and regularly monitored, Antara reported.

Coutrier said improving living conditions in Jakarta would not
be affordable without the reclamation project.

"We hope that people will respond positively to the project,
which is indispensable because environmental damage is hard to
repair," he said.

Coutrier said the project would serve as a "test case" for
Indonesian engineers working on it. "This will give them
(Indonesian engineers) valuable education and experience, since
they will be able to learn a lot from their foreign counterparts,
who will be hired by the government to supervise the gigantic
project." (bas)