REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The polemic of Jakarta's land reclamation appeared following the decision of Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan to lift moratorium of that project on October 5.
Interestingly, the decision came ahead of inauguration of Jakarta governor-elect Anies Baswedan and his deputy Sandiaga Uno.
The central government officially lifted its moratorium on the Jakarta Bay reclamation project through an announcement letter issued by the office of Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister.
The letter was sent to Jakarta Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat and he immediately sent a letter of request for discussion of draft local regulations (raperda) related to that project to Regional Legislative Councils (DPRD).
With the announcement, the ban on construction work on Jakarta's bay reclamation project officially lifted. Also, as a consequence, the minister's letter banning project which issued in 2016 is nullified.
Former coordinating maritime affairs minister Rizal Ramli halted the project last year. He asked for the fulfilment of several requirements.
Among others were a revision to the Environmental Impact Analysis (Amadal), taking into account technical designs for power plant pipes, sedimentation mitigation and sailing routes for traditional fishermen.
Chairman of synchronisation team of Anies and Sandi, Sudirman Said revealed recommendations from his team related to Jakarta's bay reclamation. He asserted both governor-elect and deputy governor-elect still opposed reclamation, as their promise during the election campaign.
Jakarta's bay reclamation became subject to hot debate during the gubernatorial election campaign this year. During the campaign period, Anies and Sandiaga repeatedly vowed to stop that project.
They assessed reclamation was environmentally unfriendly and would disrupt the livelihoods of fishermen and people around the project's area, and many more.
Sudirman added synchronization team has recommend Anies and Sandi to conduct a comprehensive review, both from the legal side, environmental management, commercial, and also important benefits to the public. They better do it after being officially inaugurated as governor and deputy governor of DKI Jakarta.
"As far as i know, the position and stance of Anies and Sandi have never change. They are consistent not to continue the reclamation," Sudirman said, Wednesday (October11).
He believed there is no need for 'face-to-face' situation between central and provincial government decisions. In the matter of managing the region, each has responsibilities and authority that must be mutually respected.
Sudirman explained, Anies and Sandi orientation would focus on the authority of the Regional Government. Their main purpose are on legal certainty and utilizing the islets that has been built for the interests of the larger communities.
Meanwhile, an urban planning expert at Trisakti University, Nirwono Yoga said that the choice to dismantle islands number C, D, and G was not very realistic. He assessed Anies and Sandi should compromise, make the reclaimed islets to be useful.
Previously, Luhut told Anies and Sandiaga that the Jakarta's bay reclamation project should be continued as it is one of the central government's long-awaited projects, that date back to the former president Soeharto era.
He said research on the development of the artificial islets had been conducted since the former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono administration.
Later, it was being continued under the leadership of President Joko Widodo. Jakarta's bay reclamation project is a project initiated by the Jakarta city administration involving the construction of 17 manmade island on the northern coast of the city. The project developed by private companies.
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