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West Java cracks down on overdevelopment in Puncak following massive floods
West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi said that tea had been cultivated in the Puncak area since the Dutch colonial era, not only for economic purposes but also as part of broader environmental conservation efforts. He emphasized that environmental sustainability must take precedence over short-term economic interests.
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Workers clean up mud and rocks blocking the road in Puncak, Bogor, West Java, on Monday. (Antara/Yulius Satria Wijaya)
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ewly inaugurated West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi is cracking down on overdevelopment and land use violations in Puncak, a popular tourist spot in Bogor, West Java, following the severe flooding that affected the area and other parts of Greater Jakarta earlier this week.
The environmental degradation caused by overdevelopment of villas and commercial tourism facilities in the mountainous region, which is known for its cool breezes and lush tea plantations, has long been believed to contribute to the worsening floods in downstream areas, especially in Jakarta.
On Thursday, Dedi ordered the demolition of parts of Hibisc Fantasy Puncak, a newly opened theme park owned by the West Java state enterprise (BUMD) PT Jasa Kepariwisataan (Jaswita), for violating land use regulations.
"They only have a building permit for about 4,800 square meters, yet they constructed the theme park on 15,000 square meters. I’ve instructed the dismantling of the park due to its negative impact on the environment," he said on Thursday, as reported by Antara.
"I will not hesitate to enforce the law, even if the theme park is owned by a BUMD. We want to send a clear message that we will act against any violators," he added.
Dedi highlighted that land permit violations are rampant in Puncak. For instance, in the popular tourist spot of Gunung Mas, approximately 1,600 hectares that were originally designated for tea plantations have been converted into agrotourism developments.
He also noted that many people are illegally building houses and villas along the riverbanks in Puncak, while dumping rocks and soil waste into the rivers, making them shallower.
