The Lembongan: Who Acts Fast, He Can Win

0
inShare

Nusa Lembongan retains its own uniqueness so that it can continue to develop into a tourist destination. Local communities are competing to build various accommodations ranging from home stay to hotel and villas. However, who will think that most of the land use for tourism purposes is not on the basis of private ownership as happened to the area of mangrove forest at Jungutbatu village.
“Formerly it was a forest area. Then, people cultivated seaweed here and probably the village is far from here to bring the crops so that we find respective place here. In other words, the forest land is opened after cutting it down. People call it ‘who acts fast, he can win. Until now the mechanism still goes on,” said a member of the Jungutbatu Rural Development Agency, Gede Adnyana.
According to him, the buildings for tourism purposes at Jungutbatu are established on the backfilled land belonging to the Ministry of Forestry. Local people cannot submit the rights to use. So, it is only taken advantage as it is today with the permission from village authority. Moreover, there is no written consent.
“It is not directly managed by village, but we collect the levy each month. Actually it is backfilled land owned by the Forestry,” he explained. Adnyana worries if status of the state land can kindle a conflict over the land considering the people building the accommodation facilities in the area have been inspected by the government of Klungkung.
Customary security guard (pecalang) of Segara Ped Nusa Penida, I Nyoman Widana, said that the utilization of the state forests for tourism purposes is mostly done by local residents. He does not deny if there are some people making collaboration with people from outside Lembongan. “So far, there has been no land conflict. I think it does not harm because it opens job opportunities for local villagers,” he said.

Widana added that currently there has been no specific mapping regarding the area that can be exploited for tourism. When wishing to use the land, people are enough to coordinate with customary village and local headman. Then, in terms of contribution to customary village, it will be adjusted to the capability. “So far, we do not charge local people, but people from outside of the area may be charged a levy. However, the amount has not been determined yet and it is varied or depending on the sincerity of the business owner. Village bylaw does not set it forth to that extent,” he said. (BTN/kmb)www.bali-travelnews.com
bali tour & travel