Owner of Hotel Baruna, Putra Suratana has neglected the order to meet the Head of Justice of Buleleng government Made Widiartha, S.H. to consult the issue around beach reclamation at Pemaron beach of Buleleng. Owner of Hotel Baruna was invited to come on Thursday, October 14th, but instead he only send his staff, the Operation Manager of Hotel Baruna, Putu Dharma.

Made Widiartha expressed his expectation to meet the owner of Hotel Baruna in person to ressolve the issue around beach reclamation and construction on it which was considened as violation to existing regulation. Before taking strict action against the violation, the government has so far offered its good will to open a discussion, and therefore invited the hotel owner. “Justice team demands an explanation with regard to expansion of hotel’s yard taking public beach. Additionally justice team also demands legal proove on related permits hold by the hotel,” said Widiartha.

In his meeting with Putu Dharma, Widiartha did not get acceptable explanation about the reclamation. Dharma himself told that he does not now how the reclamation has actually taken place, as he has just started his job a few months back. Since the reclamation issue came up, he has been ordered by his boss to complete required paperworks.

Widiartha said that in solving this issue, the government expects the owner of Hotel Baruna to show his respect to existing regulations by deconstucting violating constructions. “If the hotel does not positively respond the such expectation, the government will demolish all constructions which violate beach set-back regulation. We expect the hotel to deconstruct those buildings themselves, but if they don’t, we will.”

As published by local newspapers, local residents complained about beach reclamation in the area. In addition to violationg beach set-back regulation, buildings constructed on reclamated area have taken public facilities normally used by local residents for both recreation and religious rituals. Assesment made by technical team from the office for public works has concluded that both reclamation and construction violated existing regulations. However so far the government has not taken strict enforcement yet.