TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama conducted a site visit to D Island, which is one of the chain of islands being reclaimed out of Jakarta Bay.
Ahok was accompanied with three Ministers - namely the Minister for Forestry and the Environment Siti Nurbaya, the Minister for Fisheries and Marine Affairs Susi Pudjiastuti, and the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Rizal Ramli.
"The visit is aimed to show them the reality of the situation - as I have said before, reclamation is now a common occurrence that is being done everywhere," said Rizal at D Island in North Jakarta on Wednesday, May 4, 2016.
According to Ramli, however, the reclamation must be subjected to a thorough analysis, especially due to its major impact to the landscape and the environment. "We also have to think about national interests, its benefit for local communities, and then we can start thinking about business and commercial interests," he said.
Following the development that has already begun on the reclaimed islands, Governor Basuki has claimed that his Administration has asked the developer - PT Kapuk Naga Indah - to immediately cease any construction activity. "We have filed a letter to the developer - and they have agreed to stop any development temporarily," said the governor.
The temporary suspension of the project will be into effect until the Ministry of Forestry and the Environment has issued a Decree and a thorough analysis about reclamation projects across Jakarta's northern coastline.
ANTARA
