Antara 15 Apr 16;
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Maritime Affairs and Fishery Minister Susi Pudjiastuti has called on the Jakarta administration to halt the Jakarta Bay reclamation project until developers meet all necessary norms.
"The reclamation was being carried out without any recommendation or observing coastal area zoning regional regulations," the minister told the press here on Friday.
A reclamation project needs recommendation from the Maritime Affairs and Fishery Ministry.
She said her ministry, the Environmental Affairs and Forestry Ministry and the Jakarta Administration will hold a meeting to discuss the controversial project.
In the meantime, Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama alias Ahok earlier said President Joko Widodo has no objections to any reclamation project as long as it does not damage the environment.
"I think, in principle, the president, who himself has been a governor, sees nothing wrong with reclamation. All over the world, reclamation happens. The president says that the important thing is that it should not damage the environment,," Ahok said here, Friday. (*)
Minister Susi asks Jakarta to stop reclamation projects
Callistasia Anggun Wijaya Jakarta Post 16 Apr 16;
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti has requested that the Jakarta administration stop the Jakarta Bay reclamation project temporarily until it meets the sufficient requirements in accordance with the law.
The controversial megaproject of the 17 man-made islets off the Jakarta Bay does not meet existing regulations even though the authority lies in the hands of Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, Susi said on Friday.
"We want the reclamation to be halted for a while until all the requirements are fulfilled as mandated by the law," Susi told journalists in a press conference at her official residence.
Reclamation projects could proceed, but the Jakarta administration must follow procedures, the minister said.
Based on a 1995 presidential decree issued by the late president Soeharto, the Jakarta governor has the authority to issue reclamation permits. However, a 2012 presidential regulation stipulates that reclamation permits must be based on the ministry's recommendations as Jakarta was included in the national strategic areas.
Moreover, Susi also pointed out that the reclamation projects had been started despite the lack of Jakarta's coastal area spatial planning bylaws. The Jakarta City Council halted the deliberations on the bylaws on Tuesday on the back of legal issues following the arrest of councillor Muhammad Sanusi over alleged bribery on the discussions of the bylaw.
The ministry and House of Representatives Commission IV overseeing agriculture, forestry and maritime affairs had also agreed to stop the reclamation projects during a working meeting at the House complex on Wednesday.
The ministry initiated a meeting with all relevant stakeholders of the project, such as the Jakarta administration, the Environment and Forestry Ministry and developers to settle the dispute, Susi said.
The discussion was needed to clarify the overlapping regulations regarding the megaproject, for which investment is estimated at Rp 150 trillion ($11.4 billion), to bring a win-win solutions for all stakeholders, especially the public.
The ministry will also push for public facilities in the planned 5,100 hectares of reclaimed islets, Susi said.
"We have to monitor the access of the public to the beach. Currently many people can't access the beach because corporations have plotted the beach for their own benefits," Susi added.
The ministry has asked the Jakarta administration to cooperate to settle any disputes regarding reclamation, she added.
Separately, Governor Ahok has claimed that he has the support of the President in regard to the reclamation projects.
"The President sees nothing wrong with the reclamation. Most importantly don't damage the environment, president said," he added. (rin)
Jakarta bay reclamation project ignores public`s rights: Senator
Antara 15 Apr 16;
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Since the onset, the Jakarta Bay reclamation project has ignored the Jakarta residents right to information, according to Jakarta senator Fahira Idris.
"The Jakarta residents have not received comprehensive information on the project to reclaim 17 islands for developing business centers and settlements," Fahira, deputy chairperson of Committee III of the Regional Representative Council for Jakarta, noted in a statement, Thursday.
Most of the information reaching the public only revealed that the reclamation was necessary and a noble deed to solve Jakartas problems of land shortage, flooding, and coastal damage, she stated.
In fact, Fahira believes that the project was more business-oriented than in tune with the publics interests.
Therefore, the Jakarta senator has urged the residents to reject the reclamation project.
"For me, the fate of the reclamation project lies in the hands of Jakartas residents. It is time for Jakartas inhabitants to demonstrate that this city does not belong to either the provincial administration or the Regional Legislative Council, and moreover, even not the property developers," Fahira emphasized.
The officials and businessmen can have the clout, authority, and money, but once the inhabitants of Jakarta stand united in rejecting the project, the reclamation work must be halted, she remarked.
The arrest of three people in connection with a bribery case concerning the reclamation project should serve as a momentum for the Jakarta public to be more alert and vocal regarding development programs in the capital city, she pointed out.
"The alleged bribery case is a tip of the reclamation iceberg. There are plenty more controversies and problems regarding the ambitious project," she noted.
Fahira quoted the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as saying that the Jakarta Bay reclamation projects case was considered to be a major corruption scandal as a lot of money was on stake and several people were involved in it.
The Jakarta senator also pointed out that in accordance with President Joko Widodos maritime axis vision, a coastal area, which was environmentally degraded, should be revitalized by the regional administration instead of being reclaimed, because fishermen in the coastal areas relied on it for their livelihood.(*)
Fishermen to celebrate suspension of Jakarta Bay reclamation project
Antara 16 Apr 16;
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Fishermen will celebrate the decision of temporary suspension of the Jakarta Bay reclamation issued by Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti.
"Fishermen celebrate the decision of the government and the House of Representatives which stopped the Jakarta Bay reclamation project temporarily through sails," Chairman of the Indonesian Traditional Fishermens Union (KNTI) Riza Damanik said in a written statement received here Saturday.
The reclamation project has cut fishing area and damaged the environment around Jakarta Bay, Damanik remarked.
As a result, the project eliminated the livelihood of fishermen and disrupted marine ecosystems.
Fishermen of Jakarta Bay will celebrate the recommendation by conducting theatrical action in the port of Muara Angke on Sunday (April 17).
Earlier, Maritime Affairs and Fishery Minister Susi Pudjiastuti called on the Jakarta administration to halt the Jakarta Bay reclamation project until developers meet all necessary norms.
The reclamation was being carried out without any recommendation or observing coastal area zoning regional regulations," the minister told the press here Friday.
A reclamation project needs a recommendation from the Maritime Affairs and Fishery Ministry.
Her ministry, the Environmental Affairs and Forestry Ministry and the Jakarta Administration will hold a meeting to discuss the controversial project, she said.
In addition, Jakarta senator Fahira Idris remarked that Jakarta residents have not received comprehensive information on the project to reclaim 17 islands for developing business centers and settlements.
Most of the information reaching the public only revealed that the reclamation was necessary and a noble deed to solve Jakartas problems of land shortage, flooding, and coastal damage, she stated.
In fact, the project was more business-oriented than in tune with the publics interests, Fahira believed.
Therefore, the Jakarta senator urged residents to reject the reclamation project.
Meanwhile, Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama alias Ahok earlier said President Joko Widodo has no objections to any reclamation project as long as it does not damage the environment.
"I think, in principle, the President, who himself has been a governor, sees nothing wrong with reclamation. All over the world, reclamation happens. The President says that the important thing is that it should not damage the environment," Ahok said.(*)
