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Developer denies govt's claim of gross violations in reclamation project
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Top officials of property giant PT Agung Podomoro Land (APL) hold a press conference on July 2 attended by APL deputy chairman Noer Indradjaja (left), APL president director Cosmas Batubara (second-left), APL deputy chairman Indra Widjaja Antono (second-right) and PT Muara Wisesa Samudra Halim Kumala (right). The company denied the government's allegations that it had committed violations and questioned the government's decision to terminate the construction of islet G. (JP/Winda Ayu Charmila)
O
ne of the Jakarta Bay reclamation project developers has rejected the central government's claim that gross violations had taken place in the construction of the islet, saying that it went through all the necessary procedures before starting the ambitious project.
PT Muara Wisesa Samudra, a subsidiary of property giant PT Agung Podomoro Land (APL), has denied claims made by Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Rizal Ramli that the construction of the islet would harm the environment and disrupt shipping lanes.
"We object to minister Rizal Ramli's statement that we committed gross violations. We have been working professionally for 40 years," APL president director Cosmas Batubara said at a press conference on Saturday.
The firm conducted research to obtain the concession for the 161-hectare islet G to find if there were metal objects, such as underwater power cables or gas pipes, and did not find anything, Cosmas said. His company had also fulfilled all requirements before obtaining the permit for the project, he added.
The government through the Office of the Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister decided on Thursday to halt construction of islet G on the aforementioned grounds.
Muara Wisesa Samudra's director Halim Kumala also denied the claims, saying that all issues related to construction of the islet had been thoroughly considered beforehand. Muara Wisesa was planning to build a 300-meter-wide canal to allow up to 15 fishermen to pass through the area and continue fishing while the islet was being constructed, he said. Furthermore, the construction would not cause environmental damage as there was no marine biota around the islet G location, Halim added.
The company also plans to meet with Rizal to explain the technicalities of the project and procedures it has gone through, as it is concerned the ministry does not have sufficient information regarding the development of islet G, Cosmas said.
The decision to halt the construction of islet G came from the results of an investigative team' set up by the Ministry to look into the controversial reclamation projects in the Jakarta Bay. The government allowed development of islets C, D and N to proceed, saying they had only committed minor violations. However, it required them to adjust their projects so that they were in accordance with the initial reclamation plan. (wnd/rin)
