Officials Order Construction Teams To Demolish Illegal Hotel In Bali’s Uluwatu

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Bali’s Uluwatu is a blissfully beautiful coastal resort located on the island’s southern tip. The surfing paradise is undergoing a huge tourism boom right now, and new hotels, cafes, apartment blocks, and entertainment venues are being constructed all over the peninsula.

This rapid development has local communities concerned about the legitimacy of some of the construction projects. 

Bali’s Civil Police Service, Saptol PP, has been investigating the construction permits and business licenses of a new hotel project in Pecatu Village.

While Uluwatu is the name given to the new resort area, the destination known as Uluwatu is actually comprised of Uluwatu Village, Pecatu Village, and Ungasan Village. 

Saptol PP has investigated the permits, plans, and paperwork of an ambitious hotel project on Jalan Pantai Bingin in the heart of Uluwatu.

The project received a significant amount of complaints from local residents, business owners, and, anecdotally by tourists too. The project appears to have started construction on the very edge of the cliff, something that complaints feel violates the conditions of the building permits. 

@epic.stays This hotel is perched on limestone cliffs 100 metres above the Indian ocean 📍Alila Villas Uluwatu in #Bali #Indonesia 🎥 @uniquepassports_ #traveltok #uniquestay #travelbali #balihotelguide #luxurystay ♬ originalljud – Lojsanwallin

In a wild turn of events, the investigation by Saptol PP has revealed that the people behind the project could not present the relevant paperwork when summoned to do so.

Not only do they not have construction permits, but they do not have legal ownership of the land nor a formal lease agreement. 

The Head of Badung Saptol PP, I Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara, spoke reporters on Thursday afternoon as the investigation got underway.

He said, “Our team has gone down to the location to check. A summons has also been given (to the owner) to come and provide clarification through the disclosure of various permit documents in his possession.”

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@epic.stays This hotel is perched on limestone cliffs 100 metres above the Indian ocean 📍Alila Villas Uluwatu in #Bali #Indonesia 🎥 @uniquepassports_ #traveltok #uniquestay #travelbali #balihotelguide #luxurystay ♬ originalljud – Lojsanwallin

He continued, “The location of the villa stands at one of the cliff points on Jalan Pantai Bingin, Pecatu Village. The construction is still under construction, and the progress is estimated to be around 80 percent.”

The investigation moved quickly, and by the late evening, it was revealed that the whole project was being conducted illegally in every way possible.

Suryanegara shared updates about the investigation late yesterday evening; he said that the business owners were unable to present any paperwork linked to the project other than some tax registration documents.

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Suryanegara said, “Never mind the permits; the land certificate related to the place being built is not owned. The owner can’t show anything other than taxes.”

He confirmed that the construction of the project so close to the cliff border has violated a number of land laws.

The business owner has agreed to comply with Sapol PP’s orders to demolish the building. In the meantime, officials will be keeping a close eye on activities at the site.

Suryanegara concluded, “The owner made a statement to stop all activities there and will dismantle the building. We will return to give warnings and ensure the termination of building projects. Not only that, the Badung Satpol PP will install Pol PP lines to close all building project activities.”

This is welcome news for local people who have been working hard to bring the issue of illegal construction to the attention of the authorities for months.

It is not only local communities and tourists who are concerned about the level of development and investment on the island.

Speaking earlier this year, Indonesia’s fifth president Megawati Soekarnoputri voiced her concerns about the huge amount of construction that is happening in Bali right now. 

Soekarnoputri warned that Bali is at risk of experiencing the woes of over-tourism sooner than many may think if action is not taken to better control construction on the island.

The ex-President spoke passionately about the need to crack down on unruly and badly behaved tourists and foreigners on the island, and it was clear that without drastic changes that tourism could be the ruin of the island for future generations of local people and tourists.