Violating Spatial Planning, 33 Development Locations in Puncak Area Sealed

BOGOR, KOMPAS – A total of 33 construction sites in the Puncak area, Bogor Regency, West Java, have been sealed due to indications of violating spatial planning and converting land use beyond its original designation. This land conversion has led to further degradation of upstream areas and triggered hydrometeorological disasters such as floods and landslides.

The process of sealing locations that violated spatial planning in the Puncak Area was carried out directly by the Minister of Environment, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, together with the Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan, and the Governor of West Java, Dedi Mulyadi, on Thursday (6/3/2025).

One of the locations visited and sealed was the Hibisc Fantasy Puncak recreational facility, managed by one of West Java's Regional-Owned Enterprises (BUMD). The recreational facility, situated within the area of PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN), violated spatial planning regulations and repurposed land by being constructed in a tea plantation area in Cisarua, covering approximately 1,600 hectares.

Hanif stated that parties violating spatial planning regulations and land-use conversion will face administrative sanctions. After investigations are conducted, it is also possible that these parties will face criminal and civil penalties.

"Civil sanctions are related to the environmental damages that must be compensated. Meanwhile, criminal sanctions are imposed for causing deaths and floods with significant economic value," said Hanif to the media during the sealing process.

Hanif stated that land conversion frequently occurs in the upstream areas of the Ciliwung River Basin (DAS). In fact, the Ciliwung River Basin has very specific characteristics, as it can channel water directly and rapidly during heavy rainfall. Damage to the Ciliwung River Basin will ultimately contribute to flooding in downstream areas such as Jakarta.

We need to dismantle and replant trees, including evaluating the existence of tea plantations.

According to Hanif, in 2010, 15,000 hectares of the Ciliwung watershed were designated as protected areas, national parks, production forest areas, and water bodies. Of that area, only 500 hectares were allocated for residential zones.

However, in 2022 there was a change in spatial planning in the Ciliwung watershed covering 8,000 hectares into an agricultural area. While in the implementation in the field, the agricultural area has now been built into settlements, recreation areas, and lodging.

"Changing the spatial plan must be based on scientific analysis. Meanwhile, the upstream part has a groundwater absorption function and must be a protected area. We have wondered and will investigate why in 2022 this protected area was changed to an agricultural area. This condition is what triggered the disaster," he said.

Hanif emphasized that flash floods upstream and floods downstream such as Jakarta must be an alarm to immediately organize the landscape and spatial planning that has been damaged. All efforts will be made to reorganize the landscape starting from spatial analysis studies, supervision, to law enforcement.

"We need to dismantle and replant trees, including evaluating the existence of tea plantations. Indeed, during the Dutch era, the landscape of this area was suitable for tea plantations. However, now the designation must be very selective and requires many trees with strong supporting roots to withstand soil erosion," he said.

gakkum findings

Deputy for Environmental Law Enforcement (Gakkum) of the Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency (BPLH) Inspector General Rizal Irawan said that his party had verified the Ciliwung DAS field since last week. The verification was carried out because there were indications of land conversion in the upstream.

"There are several findings, namely PTPN conducting operational cooperation with 33 tenants. Previously, the area of agrotourism was only 16,000 hectares and the current findings have reached 35,000 hectares so there is a mismatch in environmental documents," he said.

Rizal ensured that all legal efforts would be taken, including environmental disputes. In this environmental dispute, an estimate of state and community losses caused by this land conversion will be calculated as well as environmental recovery costs charged to the developer.

Dedi Mulyadi committed that the West Java Provincial Government will demolish all buildings that violate spatial planning in the Puncak area and return it to a green area. The West Java Provincial Government is also willing to manage the area as a forest area.

"We ask PTPN to change its business plan again. All areas managed by PTPN today must be returned to their intended use," he said.