80% of Lembongan Villas Illegal?

(8/15/2011)

Bisnis Bali reports that a member of the Klungkung regional House of Representatives (DPRD-Klungkung) is of the opinion that 80 percent of the villas and homestays on Lembongan Island are unlicensed.

Anak Agung Bagus from Commission A of the DPRD-Klungkung said on Friday, August 12, 2011, “these are clearly violations; why is no action being taken?”

He said that he wanted the permit issuance authorities not to issue permits for company operating illegally at this time.

Agung Bagus urged the Regional Enforcement Agency (Satuan Polisi Pamong Praja) to take firm action against illegal operations. Adding, “in order to obtain a cleared picture on the situation of these illegal villas, I suggest to the Klungkung council to hold a working session at which the relevant agencies are invited to attend.”

He went on to say that in addition to illegal villas, there are also illegal transmission towers, unlicensed convenience stores and unlicensed buildings at Lembongan – all pointing to the poor state of public administration and law enforcement on the island located a few miles off Bali’s southeast shore.

I Putu Suartha, the head of licensing for Klungkung freely admitted that his department was weak and poorly coordinates permits in his region. He defended his department, saying a letter had been sent to investors asking them to organize the necessary legal permits for their businesses. But, in the end, Suartha said his department’s ability to take definitive action against violators is tied to uncertainty and unclearness in the regulations.