Bali News

Pressure to stop villa development at Dasong forest, near lake Buyan, has been responded by the Provincial Government of Bali. However statement of the governor saying that he will make an assessment on the violation made by the project, was different from statement of his spokesman, Putu Suardika.

A few days back, Suardika said that the Provincial Government of Bali is awaiting for withdrawal of license for the developer to build in the area. “We have sent a letter to the Minister of Forestry to withdraw the license to build the Bali villas at Dasong forest”, he said.

The license issued by the Ministry of Forestry has also attracted attention of the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) of Bali. House member from 4th commission, Ketut Rudis, firmly said that development of villas in conservation area reflected weakness in law enforcement, caused by short term interest. He believed that the approval from high ranking official like a minister did not came out in a snap, it started by approvals and proposals from his inferior officials.

Similar opinion was expressed by another house member from the same commission, Sartono. However both of them refused to connect the weakness of law enforcement with the newly introduced land zoning regulation of Bali. Rudis said on top of sanction, enforcement is another issue. “The key is courage of official on dutu to take strict action to enforce the regulation”, he said. Both house members expected Governor’s commitment to consistently enforce the regulation. “Law has to be enforced at equal strength to everybody”, he said.

Rudis admitted that there are many officials in regency level miss understand the authority granted by regional autonomy. There are impressions that regency government has superior authority compared to provincial government. This understanding has created small kings in the regencies who arrogantly stand against regulation from higher governmental authority. The situation should not have happened if everybody take the regulation hierarchy consistently. Regency government shall never make any regulation which stands against regulation issued by higher level authority.