Klungkung, October 31 — The construction of a glass elevator rising approximately 180 meters along the cliff of Kelingking Beach in Bunga Mekar Village, Nusa Penida, Klungkung Regency, has drawn intense public and government attention amid concerns over zoning compliance and environmental impact.
The controversy reached a turning point when the Bali Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD Bali), through its Special Committee on Spatial Planning, Assets, and Licensing (known as Pansus TRAP), decided to temporarily suspend the project. Committee Chair I Made Supartha emphasized that no further construction activities should take place until all permits and disaster-mitigation assessments are verified.
“From a legal standpoint, this development should not proceed. The site lies within a disaster mitigation zone, an area legally restricted from large-scale construction,”
said Supartha during an inspection visit to the site.
During the on-site inspection on October 31, 2025, the TRAP Committee, led by Supartha and his deputy Anak Agung Bagus Tri Candra Arka, recommended that Bali’s provincial civil service police (Satpol PP Bali) enforce the suspension and mark the project zone as temporarily closed. I Dewa Nyoman Rai Dharmadi, Head of Satpol PP Bali, added that the project may also violate coastal setback and protected-area regulations.
From the investor’s side, PT Bangun Nusa Properti (BNP), represented by Director I Komang Suantara, maintained that the company had secured permits since 2023 and completed both environmental and geotechnical studies. He insisted the project complies with Regional Regulation No. 1 of 2024 on Spatial Planning (RTRW) and Regulation No. 2 of 2023 on Building Permits (PBG). Nevertheless, Suantara said the company would respect the suspension while awaiting clarification from relevant authorities.
At the national level, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) stated that it would continue monitoring the project closely to ensure all processes comply with existing regulations and sustainability standards.
“The Ministry will oversee the progress in coordination with Bali’s provincial and Klungkung Regency tourism offices to ensure that the environmental integrity of the site is maintained,”
said Hariyanto, Deputy for Destination and Infrastructure Development.
Local community representatives from Banjar Karang Dawa confirmed that the developer had conducted preliminary socialization, but many residents remain concerned that the elevator could disrupt the natural beauty of the island’s most iconic viewpoint.
The project reportedly valued at IDR 200 billion (around USD 12 million), with roughly IDR 60 billion allocated to the glass elevator alone is promoted as a tourism-access facility that could boost visitor numbers. Yet critics argue it risks damaging the area’s pristine coastal landscape and eroding its authenticity as a natural attraction.
The temporary suspension marks a critical test of Bali’s balance between tourism investment and environmental protection. While the investigation into permits and zoning compliance continues, the final decision whether to resume, modify, or dismantle the project will depend on the findings of government and legislative reviews now underway.
Salam Praja Wibawa.
Author: Muhammad Fadhil Pratomo, S.H.
