We Shall Gather at the River

(1/9/2012)

Radar Bali has revealed that a new luxury hotel being constructed on Jalan Raya Kuta in Bali may be in flagrant violation of zoning laws that stipulate setback distances from local rivers. The five-storey Citadine Hotel is said by the paper to stand on the embankment of the Tukad Mati River Way.

Still under construction, the hotel with allegedly illegal close proximity to the river can be clearly seen from the parking lot of the adjacent Bali Kuta Residence located on the opposite side of the river from the new project.

Rules published by the Badung regency stipulate that the minimum set back distance for construction outside of populated areas is 50 meters or 5 meters if the river has a constructed embankment.  While the set back distance for construction within populated areas is 10 meters for rivers without embankments and 3 meters for those with embankment.

Radar Bali contends the new hotels construction is built immediately adjacent to the river's embankment with no distance separating the hotel’s wall from the embankment.

Efforts by the Paper to discuss the seeming violation with the project manager or the hotel’s owner were unsuccessful.

The Urban Village Head for Kuta (Lurah), Wayan Daryana, told Radar Bali that he had checked the location three months earlier but the project was only partially built at that time and any violation was not clearly seen. AT that time, official had received assurances from the head of the project during their initial visit that set back rules would be followed.

Meanwhile, the sub district head for Kuta (Camat), Wayan Wijana, was unprepared to comment on the case, as he had not yet visited the location. He did, however, promise to coordinate the matter with zoning authorities (Dinas Cipta Karya).