Bali News

The Regency Govenrment of Karangasem kas issued a warning to the Management of Sidharta Resort at Kubu, Karangasem, and instructed the management to close the hotel within seven days from the date of the letter, July 29th 2009. The warning letter was issued by the Head of Administrative Police (Satpol PP) of Karangasem, IB Anom Suryadarma.

The main reason behind closure instruction was violation of land allocation zoning regulation of Karangasem. Offering five-star facilities, Sidharta Resort was located outside the tourism area of Tulamben. The hotel also violated beach setback regulation. Without having required license, the hotel has started its operation.

Assistant Manager of Shidartha Resort, I Ketut Wijaksana, said that he has forwarded the warning and closure instruction to his superior in Sanur. However so far he has not received any direction for preparation to obey the closure instruction. He further admitted that whilst the hotel has not officially launched yet, it has started to accommodate guests. At the moment there are 15 foreign tourists staying at the hotel.

Meanwhile an insider resource told Bali Post that the management has held an internal meeting. The meeting decided to put a sign that the hotel is closed at the front gate, put a fence in front of the lobby, but keep the hotel in operation inside. However Ketut Wijaksana declined the information. “There has been no decision at all with regard to the warning”, he said.

Having the hotel located on the beach, the German investor built concrete crib to protect the hotel from tidal wave. Built on a 2.4 hectares land plot, the hotel located only about a half meter away from Pura Prajapati Dalem Kubu.

Anom Suryadarma exposed that the Regency Government of Karangasem actually has warned hotel management to stop the construction and operation of the hotel. Unfortunately the hotel so far neglected the warning. If the management remained in their disobedience after the seven days period elapsed, the govenrment will have to decided appropriate penalty.