While the central government has suspended a land reclamation project in the Jakarta Bay, another controversial project is underway in Bali. An artificial island measuring 1,400 hectares is to be created in waters off Bali’s northern coast for a new airport.

Airport Kinesis Financial and Transportation Consulting, the company designing the project, presented the construction plan to the Bali Administration on Thursday.

I Made Mangku from Airport Kinesis Indonesia said the airport would be built in waters near Kubu Tambahan in Buleleng regency. Mangku said 264 hectares of the 1,400 hectare project would be reclaimed land, while the remainder would be built as a floating structure.

“Since the waters reach around 500 meters in depth, we cannot reclaim the area. So, we have decided to build a floating area,” Mangku said, adding that the reclaimed part would be used...