Permit Extension for Benoa Bay Reclamation a Must: Minister Susi
19 July 2016 11:52 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti expressed that the extension of location permit for PT Tirta Wahana Bali International (TWBI) in the Benoa Bay reclamation project must be done. Susi said that it has been stipulated by a presidential regulation.
“According to the rules, it must be extended,” she said at Bina Bahari III Building, Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, Jalan Medan Merdeka Timur, Central Jakarta, Monday, July 18, 2016.
Susi explained that location permit will be issued to individuals or companies requesting for environmental impact assessment (EIA). Thus, location permit extension does not necessarily mean Benoa Bay reclamation would soon be carried out. “Location permit is not a permit to implement [reclamation].”
According to her, failure to extend the location permit would mean that she has denied the rights of individuals or companies to perform EIA. Susi, however, has bemoaned the misleading notion that location permit extension will resulted in the issuance of reclamation permit.
Susi added that the EIA will be referred to in the decision on Benoa Bay reclamation project. Because reclamation could have two possibilities: violating the law and damaging the environment. “Both can be identified after the EIA.”
On July 13, the representatives of Balinese Forum Against Reclamation (ForBali) met with the representatives of the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister, discussing the extension of PT TWBI’s location permit. The extension was made on July 14, 2016, in accordance with Presidential Regulation No 51/2014, regardless of the decision made by the ministry.
DIKO OKTARA
