New Normal: Saving Lake Batur for Welfare and Environmental Quality Improvement towards New Bali Era  

Denpasar (Atnews)— A Member of Committee II of the Bali Regional Representative Council (B-66) Made Mangku Pastika hoped to save Lake Batur for people’s welfare and environmental quality improvement.

The effort is in line with the vision of the development of Governor of Bali Wayan Koster namely Nangun Sat Kerthi Loka Bali and is a concrete measure in saving the uplands of the Island of Gods physically (sekala) and psychically (niskala) heading for the New Bali Era.

Lake Batur is believed to be the source of life and water source for districts / city across Bali. For this reason, a real rescue measure is required so that it does not stop at the discourse.

The effort should be in line with the New Normal Life discourse in the COVID-19 pandemic. Bali is expected to really become better in accordance with the philosophy of Tri Hita Karana.

“I have already participated twice in discussing the problems and the real threat of Lake Batur due to the socio-economic consequences having been running during the initial stage,” said Pastika in Denpasar on Friday (May 29).

This was conveyed when Recess Vidcon for the Members of the Regional Representative Council Pastika with the theme “Saving Lake Batur: Action Program?” who presented Bangli Regent I Made Gianyar, Head of the Center for Bali Eco-region Development Control (P3E) and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Rijaluzzaman, Executive Chairperson of the National Watershed Consortium Dr. IB. Putera Prathama, PUPR of the Bali Province, Senior Manager of the Bali Sunda Banda Seascape, Conservation International Indonesia I Made Iwan Dewantama.

According to him, Lake Batur is a fortune that should be managed well so that it is beneficial for Bali and Indonesia. It must be done by arranging tourism objects as a colossal dance performance stage of Kang Cing Wie with King Jaya Pangus.

The story is already famous in the world, especially for the people of China. If further explored, he is optimistic that Bangli will become a new attraction for Bali tourism in the future and will bring in prosperity for the community.

“In the afternoon, tourists climb Mount Batur, while at night watch ballet performance with beautiful lighting by application of advanced technology that we can learn from China. Thus, the nature remains sustainable and economically profitable,” said Pastika who is also the Governor of Bali during the period of 2008-2018.

Moreover, it has been included in the caldera region of Mount Batur by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as part of the Global Geopark Network (GGN) since September 20, 2012.

This condition certainly makes it easy to bring in funding that can involve investors. Most importantly, there is a calculation in terms of business perspective. If adjusting the government budget alone, it is not enough, but this understanding needs to be disseminated in advance so as to reduce the pros and cons in the implementation.

By and large, big ideas are technically not an issue but the obstacles will come precisely from non-technical matters.

Good cooperation is needed, especially from the environmental NGOs themselves. “I have a dream that Lake Batur, which is the upstream of Bali, will become a masterpiece of the nation’s prosperous children with a sustainable environmental quality, because the ideals of Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) have been realized,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Regent of Bangli, Gianyar, expressed his appreciation for all parties concerned with the rescue of Lake Batur which had experienced sedimentation and pollution.

“Sometimes, when invited to resolve problems, all people avoid, but if it is useful, they claim to have an authority,” said Gianyar.

For this reason, his office remains consistent in saving the upstream of Bali by preserving water and forest resources.

So far, Bangli does not have long or medium term capabilities, it can only overcome the lake site itself in a limited way with the existing budget. He acknowledged that the lake was polluted due to dirt coming from the Penulisan, Pinggan and Belantih areas, as well as bringing garbage and plastic.

Definitely this condition caused siltation and triggered flooding in the Songan area during the rainy season. Meanwhile, during dry season they lack of water, so it requires retention dams to reduce pollution and sedimentation. “During rainy season they have excessive water, while in dry season lack of water,” said Gianyar.

Later on, the sediment will be taken advantage for soil fertility. For that, it does require huge costs and support from the Bali and central government. In addition, the need for clear boundaries commensurate with lakes can later be arranged for attractions or jogging tracks.

Thus, Bangli is really expected to enter the new normal towards the New Bali Era, not just free from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the meantime, the Head of P3E for Bali and Nusa Tenggara, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Rijaluzzaman, already gave green light.

Lake Batur has been included in the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) for 2020-2024. In the past, it was only included in 15 national priority lakes that would be saved throughout Indonesia. At present, it needs for finalization of Lake Batur Detailed Engineering Design (DED) to make the execution faster.

“The DED plan will be finalized again, there is no reason for further delay because it has been formed through the Working Group,” said Rijaluzzaman.

Then the support of all parties is needed. Actually the plan has also been submitted to the Government of Bali. Moreover, the Bangli regent was also invited to present with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK).

The struggle has been four years and experiencing hopelessness. On that account, the Members of the Regional Representative Council Mangku Pastika together with the Bali Government is expected to immediately support the realization so that the damage to the lake can be quickly resolved.

On that occasion, Executive Chairman of National Watershed Consortium Putera Prathama with Bali Sunda Banda Seascape Senior Manager, Conservation International Indonesia I Made Iwan Dewantama gave an input so that the rescue of Lake Batur could be immediately realized, not stuck in the discourse. Indeed, strong leadership is needed to coordinate this, considering that Bali has an emergency clean water reserve.

The lake also proves that Bali as a whole has a strong connection both on a physical (sekala) and psychical (niskala), and then One Island One Management is very appropriate.

The event lasted for almost two hours, moderated by Nyoman Baskara and closed by providing food assistance delivered by the Expert Staff of Regional Representative Council Mangku Pastika, I Ketut Ngastawa, to students of IHDN Denpasar originating from outside Bali. (ART/001)