Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Rizal Ramli, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya, Maritime and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, and Ahok visited the island in the bay of Jakarta to gain firsthand information on the reclamation project that had been halted temporarily.
"We have come to see the real condition here and in the other reclamation sites," Ramli remarked, adding that despite the risk, reclamation work was common across the world.
The government had earlier decided to temporarily suspend the reclamation project in the Bay of Jakarta, which covered 17 islands, until all the requirements, laws, and regulations were met by the developer.
On April 18, Ramli announced the governments decision to impose a moratorium on the Jakarta Bay reclamation project until the pros and cons of the multi-billion reclamation deal were evaluated.
"We request to suspend the construction work until all requirements and legal regulations are fully met," Ramli, who was accompanied by Nurbaya and Ahok, informed the press at the time.
President Joko Widodo had later emphasized that the reclamation project in Jakarta must not break any existing laws or regulations.
"There must not be any violation of the existing laws and regulations in the implementation of this project," cabinet secretary Pramono Anung noted.
To this end, the president has urged all concerned ministries/state institutions, including the Ministry of Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Agrarian Affairs, and Spatial Order/head of the National Land Agency to synchronize their work, so as to avoid legal problems in future.
He said the president had also requested to formulate a key master plan to anticipate any environmental problems that may affect the sea biota, mangroves, and other aspects.
"The president emphasized that the project would not serve any purpose if it did not benefit the people, especially the local fishermen," he added.
(O001/INE/o001)
EDITED BY INE
(T.SYS/A/KR-BSR/O001)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
