DENPASAR ~ Almost two years after applying for permission to build a fish market on Tanjung Benoa Beach, officials have decided to go ahead with construction without a permit, an official said.

Tanjung Benoa village chief Nyoman Wanaputra said since they had still not received any response to an application sent in November 2007, as well as in 2008 and 2009, they had decided to start building on the 2,600-square-meter market.

“We really need to build the market to protect fishermen from suppliers who take advantage of them and make huge profits. We need to cut out the middleman so the fishermen can make the money they deserve,” Wanaputra said.

He said the construction of the market was already 50-percent completed, and everyone in the village was in support of the project.

“Local residents have said they will protest against the government if they threaten to knock the market down,” he said.

Wanaputra said the budget for the construction was Rp1.2 billion (US$100,000), but they were prepared to pay for the land if Badung’s government was willing to sell it.