It is not hard to find premises which violate Uluwatu holly zone. Some tens of properties in various type of businesses including hotels, private villas, and restaurants are scattered around. In addition to area within the holly zone, cliff top land plots are also sought after. There are a number of properties sit only a few meters off soaring cliff for the sake of breathtaking views which attracts holiday makers.

Issue on violation of holly zone around the sacred Uluwatu temple recently afloat back following controversial statement made by the new Governor of Bali, Made Mangku Pastika, endorsing an idea to revise provincial zoning regulation instead of enforcing existing regulation against violators. Pastika’s statement was made immediately after his meeting with Vice Regent of Badung and a number of high ranking official from the government of Badung Regency. The statement which was considered by far weaker than his predecessor Dewa Made Beratha has immediately invited enormous critiques.

In the concept of safeguarding Bali inherited from the incestors, Uluwatu is the fence on the Southern border which is supposed to be strong in preventing any negative impacts which potentially destroy Bali. As a holly temple, Uluwatu temple is so far standing strong againsts the wild wind and tidal wave of the Indian Ocean.

Unfortunately the Southern fence of Bali is gradually rotten. It strength has started to be compromised with flooding toursim investment. Currently there are some tens of tourism facilities located within the holly zone around Uluwatu Temple. Most of private villas in the area are owned by outsiders and foreigners, fery few owned by Balinese. Most investors are Jakarta based and in addition to private villas they also own land plots.

The remaining question is with so many ownership hand-overs to outsiders, will commitment to safeguard the remaining existence of Bali culture and environment sustains? How much the new owners care about preventing Bali from cultural and environmental degradations?

Foreign Investors

There are some tens of private villas, bars, and restaurants located within five kilometers from Uluwatu temple. Manager of a private villas close to Uluwatu temple explained that owners of those villas are varied, from Balinese to foreign investors. Property investments in the area are considered lucrative. Exotic scenery of hillside, cliff, and ocean views as well as serene environment are among the main magnets to tourists.

Furthermore he also told that most villas in Uluwatu and Suluban are rented by tourists who are addicted to wave surfing. Wave along the coastline of Uluwatu and Suluban is considered very challenging. With only as low as 200,000 Rupiah per night tourists can enjoy accommodation facilities offered by these beach villas. These kind of modest villas are not at all look luxurious. At a glance they look more like boarding houses with a better maintenance. Number of bedrooms are in most case very limited, four bedrooms with modest facilities of bed and TV.

For those who can afford more, there are much better options such as villas with private swimming pool sitting on a cliff edge with breath-taking ocean fews which can cost well beyond a thousand Dollars a night. The area also hosts private villas favorited by celebrities, especially to hold their special moments such as wedding of famous singers Glenn Fredly and Dewi Sandra.

Specific to violation of cliff-edge clearance, there are at least three villas in Suluban found violating existing regulation, with constuction takes place within only a few meters away from the the cliff edge. A villa which have been instructed to be demolished by the government was closed when a local daily Bali Post inspected the area.