Ni Komang Erviani and Luh De Suriyani, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar | Wed, 08/26/2009 1:40 PM
Despite protests, Bali's provincial legislative body has finally ratified a controversial regional bill on spatial zoning that will regulate the island's zoning policy for the next 20 years.
The new bill, which will replace the existing bill on spatial zoning issued in 2005, is a revision of the 2005 bill required by a 2007 law on national zoning policy.
The draft of the new bill consists of 18 chapters and 151 sections.
The most controversial part of the bill has to do with regulating the island's agricultural zones.
The new regulation stipulates that 90 percent of the current area dedicated to farming must remain agricultural zones over the next 20 years.
In other words, only 10 percent of the current land used for farming can be converted into commercial zones in the next 20 years.
Up to now, however, Bali has witnessed a rapid conversion of farming land into facilities catering to the tourism industry.
The provincial government reported around 700 hectares of farming land was converted each year into commercial sites and housing complexes.
In fact, Bali only has 228,153 hectares of agricultural land, which represents 40.3 percent of total land area in Bali.
Ida Bagus Putu Wesnawa, chairman of the legislative body, hopes the government will implement the bill effectively.
"It requires strong political will from the government to carry out the bill and to take stern action against those who violate the bill," Wesnawa said.
Bali governor Made Mangku Pastika said he felt relieved the bill had finally been ratified.
"I will ensure Bali's environment is protected, as it is now facing problems," the governor added.
Wesnawa added that many investors had tried to "misinterpret" the previous bill and had implemented many development projects.
Luh Kartini of the Bali Organic Association said the bill was a positive step for Bali as it preserved agricultural areas.
"There is hope for environmentalists, and the people of Bali in general, that our land will be strongly protected by the bill," she said.
