Construction Halted On Bali Hotel Development After Cliff Collapse

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Officials in Bali have halted construction on a new hotel development after a cliff collapse on Friday, 16th May. 

Concerns are now being raised that environmental impact assessments have been ignored and building permits have not been properly completed.

Shocking footage of the destruction of the limestone cliffs on Pemutih Pecatu Beach has gone viral online. 

Images and videos show how the Mirah Development Group has collapsed a section of the limestone cliffs of Pemutih Pecatu Beach, which sits between Bingin Beach and Impossibles Beach in the booming tourism resort of Uluwatu.

The limestone rock and debris are now said to be being dredged into the ocean, making space within the cliff face for a huge ‘luxury residence’ development. 

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The company has confirmed that a serious incident took place at their construction site on the 16th May, and have issued a statement regarding the matter.

The incident, referred to by the company as an ‘excavation landslide’ is now being investigated by top authorities and the company themselves. 

Mirah writes, “Immediately after establishing the safety of all workers, a preliminary investigation was conducted with our contractors to determine the cause. Initial findings have determined that the incident was caused by loose excavated debris, which was in the process of being transported off-excavation site, triggering part of the cliff face to loosen and fall. The site was previously occupied by a deserted hotel, which we demolished.”

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The statement, issued on the company’s Instagram story, continues, “After the final assessments are complete, we will conduct an immediate clean-up to restore the affected areas. We will conduct a full restoration of the beach within 28 days, if not sooner, once optimal methods have been identified. We are also reinforcing the cliff to prevent erosion.

“We sincerely apologize to all those affected by the incident and the coming clean-up works.”

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“We are committed to learning from this event and reflecting on our practices which have allowed this to occur.”

“Our development has undergone rigorous licensing and permit processes as well as adheres strictly to all regulations regarding building ratios and land usage.”

“As a Balinese-owned company, we have proudly contributed to the local economy for the past two decades, creating employment opportunities and generating income for thousands of individuals and their families.”

The shocking scenes of the iconic white cliffs now lying crumbled into the ocean have sparked understandable concerns and outrage among Bali lovers and Indonesian authorities.

The situation has also caught the attention of Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno who has confirmed that that he had also received reports regarding the construction of this new resort. 

Minister Uno told reporters,  “We are checking, and this is being marketed by the developers, and if I’m not mistaken, there is AMDAL (Environmental Impact Analysis) data. We make sure this complies with regulations.”

He confirmed that his teams have obtained the initial data and paperwork but that they are investigating whether specific permissions have ben granted for the destruction of the cliff irrespective of the landslide.

Minister Uno told reporters “development in Bali is a destination that requires environmental sustainability, we must ensure Empowering Diversity and indeed this development can open up business opportunities and jobs. However, we must ensure that our nature is protected because the Balinese principle is Tri Hita Karana.”

The Tourism Minister went on to explain, “We will coordinate the evaluation of this development with the Acting Governor (of Bali). We will also ensure that this development does not occur overbuild because what we are avoiding is over-tourism. But it must also be ensured that this development can have a positive impact on the Balinese people.”

Minister Uno has been in Bali the last few days, along with much of the Indonesian government, for the World Water Forum.

During a conference session on Sunday, Minster Uno said that the Balinese principle of Tri Hita Karana must be strictly adhered to during any and all development. He told the panel and gathered audience “[practices] such as hill dredging have been stopped, and we will ensure that the licensing process, such as environmental impact analysis, is carried out strictly.”

With hill and cliff dredging technically banned and the cliff now collapsed at Pemutih Pecatu Beach, it is unclear whether laws have been broken and permissions not sought.

Regardless of whether Mirah Development Group is found to have broken the law, there is no putting the ancient cliff face back together. 

Speaking about the case, the Head of the Bali Provincial Tourism Office, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, told reporters, “In the regulations, it is clear what can be built. Details regarding the provisions in each area have been made by the district and city governments.”

“We are still confirming the details regarding this regulation with our friends in the district and will hold another meeting with the district to discuss it.”