At a time when many parties are fighting over the reclamation of Bali’s Benoa Bay, a reclamation project in North Bali is allegedly being carried out under the radar to avoid similar controversy as with the “Tolak Reklamasi Teluk Benoa” campaign.
An ocean area previously filled with mangroves can be observed as now having two concrete buildings, extending over mangrove forests, Merdeka reports.
Based on information collected by Merdeka about this “reclamation” in North Bali, the two hectares that’s being transformed has been sold to investors who intend to develop the area into a hotel.
Construction has been going on since the last month and there are plans to build a hotel in the middle of the ocean, Iboy, a resident of nearby Pejarakan Village, told Merdeka.
Iboy says he’s seen a number of mangroves cut down in this time.
Separately, local authority Made Astawa of Pejarakan Village does not deny the existence of reclamation in the area, and added that the land rights had been owned by a local resident named Komang Milik, who then sold them to investors.
But Astawa says he does not know exactly what type of buildings will be erected, but some tourist accommodation will be built there and there will be construction to build a road, but that could take around five years.
According to Astawa, he has not yet received an application for a permit to build such a project, but as long as the construction doesn’t interfere with the environment, there is no problem, because the land’s status is private property, he told Merdeka.
Photo: Illustration
