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.