DENPASAR, DEWATA.NEWS – Bali’s Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) is pushing for stricter spatial planning policies to protect Menjangan Island, proposing its designation as a fully protected zone with both ecological and spiritual functions.
The call was made by I Made Supartha, Chair of the Special Committee on Spatial Planning, Assets, and Licensing (Pansus TRAP), who emphasized that development policies should not be driven solely by short-term economic or administrative interests.
“Menjangan Island must not shift into a commercial area. It should be firmly positioned as a zone for ecological and spiritual protection,” Supartha said on Friday (April 10).
Located within the West Bali National Park ecosystem, Menjangan Island is considered a critical conservation area as well as a site with deep spiritual significance in Balinese Hindu tradition.
Supartha noted that spatial planning in Bali should reflect not only regulatory frameworks but also cultural and philosophical values, including the concept of Catur Asrama, which highlights the importance of quiet, natural spaces in spiritual life.
The committee is urging the Bali provincial government and local administrations to formalize Menjangan Island as a strict protection zone. Proposed measures include limiting large-scale commercial activities, prohibiting mass tourism accommodation development, and regulating visitor numbers based on environmental carrying capacity.
“Every form of land use must prioritize caution, conservation, and respect for the island’s spiritual values,” he added.
The proposal also includes applying the concept of a “sacred radius” to regulate activities surrounding spiritual sites, aiming to preserve not only physical structures such as temples but also the surrounding landscape and spiritual atmosphere.
In line with Balinese cosmology, the committee recommends zoning based on the Tri Wana concept—maha wana, tapa wana, and sri wana. Menjangan Island is proposed to be classified as maha wana, a core sacred zone that is non-negotiable and free from commercial exploitation, reserved solely for conservation and spiritual activities.
Meanwhile, the broader West Bali National Park area would function as tapa wana, a buffer zone supporting limited conservation and environmental education activities without opening access to mass tourism.
Beyond Menjangan Island, the committee also highlighted widespread spatial planning violations across Bali, describing them as structural and systemic. Field inspections have revealed cases of protected land being converted into permanent development areas, excessive land use beyond environmental limits, and unauthorized land utilization.
“This is not an isolated issue, but a recurring and widespread pattern,” Supartha stated.
The committee stressed the need for stronger, more preventive spatial control mechanisms, moving beyond reactive enforcement toward integrated systems capable of preventing violations from the outset.
Lawmakers hope that strengthened regulations and oversight will restore spatial planning as a key instrument for sustainable development in Bali, balancing economic growth with environmental preservation and cultural values.