Geothermal management hope to develop geothermal energy and approaching Bali Council in its effort will get resistance from the executive. Bali Provincial Governor through Governor Made Mangku Pastika will straightly move forward against the lobbying effort from the geothermal party. Pastika will remain committing with his decision in defending the decision from the geothermal rejection team in 2006 at the era of Governor Dewa Made Beratha and head of Bali Council Ida Bagus Putu Wesnawa.

There is no reason at all to give the project the opportunity to move forward. “We committed to defend the previous decision, since it does not concern with nature condition in Bali only but there are varied aspects in it,” said Governor Pastika, Tuesday (September 7th).

When he was asked about Bali Crossing there is possibility that the inspiration from geothermal party rise once again through lobbying their effort, Pastika said there is difference with geothermal when talking about Bali Crossing since Bali Crossing only until Gilimanuk with the voltage that has changed already when entering Bali. Meanwhile, when asked about geothermal, the earth’s belly that is drilled, which will give impact to nature and religiosity of its surrounding.

“Bedugul is head of Bali. We keep against the geothermal projet and please make differenciation when talking about Bali Crossing since geothermal in fact give negative effect for the religiosity and sacred atmosphere for area and nature in Bali. There is a lake that religiosity will be affected,” Pastika said whilst mentioned that none of the geothermal management party who delivered their desire to continuing the project. Including audience concerning geothermal with the council also, Pastika said that yet no communication between executive and council.

The governor decision is strengthened by the member of Indonesian Council Wayan Sudirta whose in 2006 was the one who assisted Geothermal Rejection Team led by Dewa Beratha and Wesnawa to Indonesian Republic Council. Sudirta said that his party choose to act harsh to the Ministry of Energy and Man Power at that time, Purnomo Yusgiantoro. It is due to the Hindu Bali believes that Bedugul is the head of Bali. “I said to the Mr. Minister. If your head was hold and pulled roughly, how’s your feeling sir?” the minister keep silence and I said that it was the problem of the local believe,” Sudirta said.

According to Sudirta it is not easy to blocking over the geothermal. “We also invited Sulinggih to met the minister in Jakarta and it was not easy to met him whilst struggling for the geothermal to be stopped. But we can do that since we unite to be one then if this the same issue rise once again, it will hurt people in Bali,” he said.

Concerning audience of geothermal party to Bali Council, Sudirta said that his party respected the mechanism in Bali Council. “We appreciate it. But in the previous government, the Governor and the Council act together to reject it. If the recent government accepted it, why? The interpretations varied. We believe that whoever who disturb and mess with the holy area would not save. We respected the council, it will better if they keep respected the past decision and all will end elegantly,” Sudirta said.

Previously in a joint decree No. 387/01-G/HK/2006 become the struggle base for the previous government struggling, at Dewa Beratha and Wesnawa era, under the name of people in Bali against geothermal project. Meanwhile member of Commission III DPR RI who was formerly vice head of Bali council, I Gusti Ketut Adhiputra also asserted his rejection and the previous government about geothermal. “That institution is not death yet, it will rice if the previous decision canceled,” Adhiputra said.

He viewed the base of rejection from the previous Geothermal Rejection Team was under the point of view that Bedugul is the head of Bali. “People in Badung, Gianyar, Bangli and Denpasar mentione it as the hulu – head – and people in Buleleng also pointed it as the head. Bedugul is the head of Bali. We cannot tearing its sacred and culture in Bali. Instead, we should maintain it with religiosity so Bali will remain harmonies,” asserted this Golkar politician from Kerobokan Badung.

News by Nusa Bali