Approvals issued without proper assessment on tourism facilities in Tabanan has brought negative impact. Tens hectares of land in Tanah Lot has been abandoned by investors. Another Bali villas development project in fertile ricefield area of Wangaya Betan, Mangesta village, Penebel is also in similar situation. Development of the project which was intended as a center of alternative healing with a number of worldwide investor was once officially inaugurated by the Regent of Tabanan, Adi Wiryatama. Regent Wiryatama confirmed that he has instructed related department to call the involved investors into a hearing. He stated that his government could not allow investors to secure land plots and walk away. “I do not want to see investors come in, secure some land, propose for principal approval, and walk away. They have to take a proper responsibility on the permit I issued”, he said.

Project Manager, I Komang Gede Sanyaja who is also a house member of Tabanan informed that the project was suspended due to funding problem related to global financial crisis. He refused indication that the project suspension was caused by refusal of local villagers who feared that the project will take significant volume of water supply. He convinced that there was no problem on permits of the mega-project sitting on fertile farmland, part of which was rice field.

Executive of an NGO said that a number of investors withdrew their interests from the funding consortium due to terror attack and uncertain situation. “Acquired land remains as they were. Farmers even have started to cultivate them again”, he said.

Meanwhile local villagers worried that the project will take massive volume of water supply. The project was also very close to sacred temple Pura Luhur Batu Panes. However, part of them were hoping to get a job in the villa once it is operated. The project was refused by various parties especially as it took off fertile rice field and predicted to take massive amount of water supply. Its drilled deep well brought potential negative impact into water availability in the area, especially the hot spring.

However, just as many other projects, the government preferred to let the project commenced by issuing an approval.