ENVIRONMENT: Lake Kelapa Dua

Councilors visit disappearing lake

Multa Fidrus

The Jakarta Post Tangerang

Banten Council members investigated Tuesday the decreasing size of the Kelapa Dua lake in Tangerang regency, suspecting developers in the area may have reclaimed part of the water catchment area.

"We want to know why this lake has decreased in size from 37.5 hectares to 22 hectares," said councilor Yevni Lubis from commission II, which oversees the environment.

Commission chairman Media Warman led Tuesday's inspection of the lake.

The lake is surrounded by the Gading Serpong, Lippo Karawaci, Vila Ilhami, Vila Islamic and Kelapa Dua housing complexes.

The councilors also found that PT Sentra Aristama had been channeling water from the lake to the Lippo Karawaci housing estate.

"They use the water for commercial purposes and the company is not registered with the Banten Revenue Office, so we will question the company's directors over tax embezzlement," Media said.

The councillors will also ask the Tangerang administration to shut down the water installation facility and hand sanctions down to its owners.