Construction on the new Yogyakarta airport in Kulon Progo has begun, despite state-owned operator Angkasa Pura having not yet secured an environmental impact assessment or environmental permits.
Angkasa Pura cleared a beach area for the new airport, with activists complaining the development should not begin without the impact assessment, known as Amdal.
“With the absence of the Amdal document and environmental permit, construction stages, including land clearance, should not be conducted,” Indonesian Forum for the Environment Director Halik Sandera said over the weekend, as reported by the Jakarta Post.
Sandera accused Angkasa Pura of repeatedly violating regulations, including the relocation of previous residents who lived on the land.
“Some residents complained about dust-related problems during the land clearance. With an Amdal document, such problems could have been prevented,” he said.
The decision to forge ahead with construction could be in violation of the 2009 Law on Environmental Conservation and Management, Yogyakarta Legal Aid Institute Advocacy Department Head Yogi Zul Fadhli said.
“We want to remind all related parties that as of today, there has been no Amdal document or environmental permit issues for the airport’s construction. The dispatch of heavy equipment to carry out land clearing activities cannot be justified,” Fadhli added.
Angkasa Pura is yet to respond to the comments.