Profile Of Eco City Rempang Project Rejected By Indigenous Peoples

Demo Pengolakan Proyek Rempang Eco City (ANTARA/Yude)

YOGYAKARTA In this article, the profile of the Eco City Rempang project is currently being discussed because it has received rejection from indigenous peoples on Pulau Rempang, Batam City, Riau Islands Province.

Previously, thousands of people from 16 old villages in Rempang refused to be relocated because of the construction of the Rempang Eco City project. This rejection led to clashes between residents and the joint security forces on Thursday, September 7, 2023.

The profile of the Rempang Eco City project is the development of the Rempang Island area, Batam City. This project is included in the list of National Strategic Projects (PSN) in 2023 as stated in the Regulation of the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Number 7 of 2023 concerning the Third Amendment to the Regulation of the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Number 7 of 2021 concerning Amendments to the National Strategic Project List.

The development of the island of Rempang is the result of collaboration between the central government through the Batam Free Trade Area and Free Port Concession Agency (BP Batam) and the Batam City Government with PT Makmur Elok graga (MEG) which is a subsidiary of Artha Graha, a business group built by Tomy Winata.

Adapted from the BP Batam website, the construction of Rempang Eco Citu is planned to be carried out on an area of 7,572 hectares or about 45.89 percent of the total area of Rempang Island of 16,500 hectares.

The development of the economic zone includes industrial, trade, and integrated tourism areas there in order to compete with neighboring countries, Singapore and Malaysia.

According to BP Batam's forecast, the Rempang Eco City project will cost up to IDR 381 trillion and will absorb 306,000 workers by 2080. This project is expected to have a positive impact on local economic growth.

Until now, the total investment in the development of the Eco Citu Area of Batam Rempang has reached Rp43 trillion.

PT MEG is always a partner of BP Batam who has also collaborated with Xinyi International Investment Limited to build a sand processing center for quartz and silica sand in Rempang.

In July, PT MEG and Xinyi signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the investment plan in Chengdu, China.

The development of the island of Rempang will include a number of facilities and attractions designed to attract tourists from Singapore and deadline countries. One of the main features of this project is the emphasis on environmental sustainability.

The Rempang Eco City area will later be well-maintained by mangrove forests. That way, this area will become one of the best ecotourism destinations. In addition, there will be a large park, bicycle lanes, and an environmentally friendly pedestrian path.

However, a number of affected residents had to be relocated for the development of Rempang Eco City. As compensation, the government has prepared a type 45 house worth Rp120 million with a land area of 500 square meters.

The government also provides other relief in the form of free of annual mandatory money (UWT) for 30 years, free land and building tax (PBB) for 5 years, BPHTB, and SHGB.

Residents affected by the Rempang Eco City project will also receive a living fee of IDR 1.03 million per person in one family.

This is information about the profile of the Rempang Eco City project. Get news updates of other selected options only on VOI.ID.