(5/13/2012)
After a long debate and lengthy legal wrangling, the demolition of five restaurants on Batubelig beach in Kerobokan, North Kuta has finally taken place. The demolition of the popular restaurants that had no building permits and violated the minimum set back requirements from the high water mark was carried out on Monday, May 7, 2012.
The five restaurants operating in violation of local zoning laws were: La Barca, Karma, Cantina Beach, Warung Pantai and Cozy Beach.
According to Radar Bar, all five restaurants have been dismantled by their owners/operators, avoiding a threatened forced demolition by Badung regency officials.
Witnessing the demolition was Wayan Puspa Negara, a members of Badung’s House of Representatives (DPRD-Badung); A.A. Putu Yuyun Hanura Eny the District Head (Camat) for North Kuta; representatives of local citizen groups and village officials.
The demolition process was supervised by members of the Badung Enforcement Agency (Sat Pol PP). The head of that agency, Ketut Martha, explained to the press that the five buildings should have been demolished on February 8, 2012. That step was, however, delayed following a written appeal from the restaurant owners and the traditional chief of Kerobokan. A delay was granted until May 8, 2012, by the regent of Badung.
The traditional chief of Kerobokan, AA Kompyang Suteja, who witnessed the demolishment of the buildings, asked forgiveness on behalf of the community and restaurant owners for the violation of the law committed necessitating the knock down. At the same time, he said he hoped the Badung regency would give an opportunity for the five restaurant owners to re-open restaurants in the area of Batubelig beach providing such restaurants are in accordance with all local laws and regulations. Suteja pleaded for reconsideration because of the employment generated for some 250 local people by the restaurants.
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