World Bank Announces Initial Study on Benoa Bay Reclamation
23 February 2017 18:30 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Nusa Dua - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has asked the World Bank and Udayana University in Bali to carry out comprehensive studies on the Benoa bay reclamation project. The government also ordered a study on the Bali ring road project and the Benoa cruise terminal.
"The world bank started to prepare the Term of Reference. Data is being collected. I also invited the Udayana University to conduct a study independently," Luhut said on the sidelines of the World Ocean Summit 2017 in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Thursday, February 23, 2017.
Luhut predicted that the World Bank and Udayana University would soon complete their preliminary reports on the Benoa Bay reclamation project.
"I think, the reports will finish next month," Luhut added.
According to Luhut, the project is vital, since Bali needs a terminal for cruise ships and ferries.
"Bali will suffer losses. There's also plastic garbage issue on beaches. Let's not have bad prejudice. We're working together to make Bali remains interesting," Luhut explained.
Balinese has voiced their rejection towards the Benoa Bay reclamation project. According to I Wayan Suardana, coordinator of the Balinese Forum Against Reclamation (ForBali), as many as 36 indigenous villages have expressed their rejections toward the reclamation project.
Suardana called on Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika to stop the reclamation project plan operated by PT Tirta Wahana Bali International (TWBI), a business network owned by conglomerate Tommy Winata.
ANGELINA ANJAR SAWITRI
