NUSA PENIDA — Just weeks after authorities demolished the controversial glass lift at Kelingking Beach, environmental attention has shifted to another disturbance: massive cliff excavations that resurfaced online, showing terraced land allegedly prepared for premium view-lot sales overlooking the island’s famous T-Rex coastline.
Recent footage circulating on social media reveals extensive land clearing and sculpted terraces in a protected zone, raising renewed questions about unchecked development on one of Bali’s most fragile landscapes.
Officials Say Work Has Stopped Since 2024
Klungkung Satpol PP Chief Dewa Putu Suwarbawa responded to the viral posts, emphasizing that the development has not been active for more than a year.
“There is no activity in that area,” Suwarbawa said on Tuesday (25/11), explaining that the controversy reappeared because old issues from 2024 were reposted on social media.
He reiterated the same point in another statement, adding:
“For now, the information we received from the Nusa Penida subdistrict office is that no work is taking place on the project.”
A Permitting Conflict Resurfaces
Authorities clarified that developer Monil Indrawan obtained basic UKL/UPL environmental compliance documents in 2019. However, a joint field inspection by the Environment and Land Office (DLHP) and Commission II of the Klungkung Legislature in April 2023 determined that the scale of landform alteration required a full AMDAL environmental impact assessment under Government Regulation No. 22/2021.
DLHP Klungkung Head I Nyoman Sidang confirmed the UKL/UPL documentation but admitted he no longer recalls the detailed purpose of the proposed development.
Tourism Observer Warns of a Bigger Pattern
Bali tourism observer Giostanovlatto called the issue symptomatic of a deeper, systemic problem.
“This isn’t just about one illegal structure anymore—it’s about the systematic transformation of Nusa Penida’s natural landscape into commercial real estate. The demolition of the glass lift means nothing if we’re just replacing vertical violations with horizontal destruction of the very cliffs people come to see.”
The Wider Implications for Bali
The cliff excavation controversy underscores Bali’s ongoing challenge in balancing booming tourism with environmental protection. Nusa Penida—already facing visitor surges and rapid development—is at the center of the debate, where natural landmarks face escalating pressure from commercial interests driven by high-value coastal views.
As authorities show increased willingness to demolish illegal structures like the Kelingking lift, the more complex question remains: How will Bali address large-scale landscape alterations that may leave permanent scars long after construction stops?
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