Nature’s Call

(9/21/2012)

The ongoing polemic over the elevated highway connecting Benoa – Ngurah Rai Airport – Nusa Dua has entered a new phase with the revision of the environmental impact study governing the project.

According to Radar Bali, the Provincial Environmental Agency (BLH-Bali) decided to that a revision of the environmental impact study must be done addressing the temporary excavation of the mangrove forest and the subsequent measures that will be taken by PT Jasa Marga Bali (PT JMB) to restore the environment once construction is completed.

The head of BLH–Bali, Nyoman Sujaya, accompanied by his chief of supervision and control Nyoman Ardana, told the press that while in the original environmental study mention was made of excavations of mangrove areas to facilitate the construction, no reference was made as to the length and extent of the excavations now being undertaken.

“For this reason,” explained Sujaya, the environmental impact study is being revised.

BLH-Bali formally delivered a letter to PT JMB on August 31, 2012, requesting an addendum to the original environmental impact study for the Bali toll way project (JDP). That letter was replied by PT JMB on September 4, 2012, agreeing in principle to undertake the requested revision. A follow-up letter was then sent by the BLJ-Bali on September 10, 2012, asking that the revised study be expedited with BLH-Bali requesting that the new environmental impact study address excavation of the mangrove and plans to restore the wetlands once the roadway is completed.

Sujaya said: “The JDP is required to prepare a budget to address the damage caused by the excavation. These funds will be used later to restore the natural environment. This must be done by the JDP.”

The law provides that should the planned environmental restoration not be carried out, then the project managers can be charged under the law.

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