T

he controversial land reclamation projects in Jakarta Bay have sparked a public spat between the central government and the new Jakarta leaders.

Only days before the inauguration of Governor Anies Baswedan and Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno, Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan ordered the Jakarta administration to resume the projects after a year’s suspension due to environmental violations.

He also warned the incoming leaders to support the projects despite their campaign pledge to stop the bay reclamation.

In his inaugural address on Monday, Anies said the management of land, water, bays and islands should not be based on individual or corporate interests, “but it must benefit all Jakarta citizens.”

Even though Anies did not specifically mention land reclamation projects in his speech, he made it clear that he would keep his campaign promise to stop the projects, because it was environmentally unfriendly and would disrupt the livelihoods of fisher folk.

Responding to Anies’ public stance, Luhut said on Tuesday he had invited Anies and his team twice before officially lifting the moratorium.

However, Anies sent his deputy, Sandiaga, to be briefed by Luhut’s team on Oct. 2 over the legal, environmental and social aspects of the reclamation projects.

Luhut, who lifted the moratorium on Oct. 5, just 10 days before Anies’ inauguration, said Anies must review the existing regulations before taking steps with regards to the controversial projects. “All of the requirements for the developers before the constructions have been fulfilled. We have conducted a number of studies involving experts from Korea, the Netherlands and Japan, as well as consulting firms hired by PLN and Pertamina. The environmental impact analysis had also been approved by Bu Siti [Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya],” Luhut said.

He added that he would welcome Anies, as the capital’s governor, to make changes in the land reclamation projects as long as he followed the existing laws and regulations.

“It’s up to him, but he should not make changes based on irrationality and [political] discourse,” he said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Luhut cited two regulations, the 2008 presidential regulation on Spatial Planning of Jakarta Bogor Depok Tangerang Bekasi Puncak Cianjur Region and the 2012 Presidential Regulation on coastal reclamation and small islands, that must be taken into account before Anies made any changes.

The regulations were issued during president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s administration.

Luhut admitted that as a coordinating minister, he had limited authority “but so does a governor. He cannot do everything he wants,” he said.

In late 2014, then-Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama issued permits for the development of islet G, I and F, under the condition that developers must give 15 percent of the sold properties on reclaimed lands based on the taxable value of property (NJOP).

Luhut estimated that the 15 percent would amount to Rp 77.8 trillion (US$5.76 billion) that would help the development of the government’s National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD), also known as the Giant Sea Wall.

His deputy on infrastructure, Ridwan Djamaludin, said the government estimated that the development would cost Rp 168 trillion.

“If the reclamation projects continue, the developers’ contribution would halve the cost of the Giant Sea Wall’s development,” Ridwan said. (dis)