Reclamation works blamed for causing floods

Reclamation works blamed for causing floods

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Two ongoing reclamation projects in Tangerang municipality and
regency respectively have received strong opposition from
residents, who claim the work will worsen flooding during the
rainy season and water shortages during the dry season.

Residents of Batu Ceper, Tangerang municipality, have
delivered their complaints to developer PT Lingkarindo Buana Raya
(LBR).

"Just two hours of rain left our houses inundated. That never
happened before the reclamation project began," Syaripudin, a
resident of the Batu Ceper Indah housing complex, said earlier
this week.

The developer plans to reclaim some 40 hectares of land along
Jl. Daan Mogot. The company already has completed the reclamation
of about 15 hectares.

Tangerang city councillor Doni Astoto said the council would
summon LBR officials and the head of the Capital Investment and
Permit Office, Dafyar Eliyadi, on Thursday to clarify reports
that Rp 60 million (US$6,521) was given to the municipality
administration "to pave the way" for the reclamation project.

"During the hearing, we will focus more on the negative impact
of the reclamation work. We will also look into the fact that the
developer has yet to obtain the required permits for the
reclamation work or completed the environmental impact analysis,"
Doni said.

Locals attempted but failed to block dirt-filled trucks hired
by the developer from entering the housing complex.

Tangerang Mayor Wahidin Halim has issued a statement
supporting the reclamation work, saying the project was in line
with the city's development plans.

Residents have filed written complaints to the council through
the Tangerang Government Watch (TGW) and the Regional Information
Study Center (Pattiro).

TGW director Tonny Wismantoro and Pattiro coordinator Muslih
Amin criticized the mayor's statement, saying his apparent
protection of investors engaged in allegedly illegal activities
was a bad precedent.

Separately, in Pondok Benda, Pamulang, Tangerang regency, some
200 residents damaged five houses being constructed on the
reclaimed land of Tujuh Muara Lake in the Vila Pamulang Mas
housing complex.

"We repeatedly delivered our complaints on the reclamation
work to the district office but no measures were taken," one of
the residents said.

The developer of Vila Pamulang has reclaimed almost half of
the approximately 700-square-meter lake, which serves as a water
catchment area, and has begun to build 10 new houses on the
reclaimed land.