KKP Immediately Review Environmental Damage Due To Mining Activities On Citlim Island

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) confirmed that there was environmental damage that occurred on Citlim Island. The environmental damage was caused by a sand mine that had not yet obtained a permit from the KKP.

The Director General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (PSDKP) of the KKP Pung Nugroho Saksono (Ipunk) said his party would review the environmental damage to the island in the near future.

"We want to go there. Yes, (it happened) environmental pollution," said Ipunk when met at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday, July 16.

Ipunk said the review would follow up on environmental pollution problems in the area. For the sanctions to be imposed, Ipunk said, this is still being investigated.

"(Meanwhile) we are investigating. Our team wants to go there to take action," he concluded.

Previously, the KKP reported findings of massive environmental damage at the mine site on Citlim Island, Sugie Besar District, Karimun Regency, Riau Islands.

During an inspection conducted by the KKP on Citlim Island some time ago, it was found that one mining business permit (IUP) company was still actively mining for sand, while the other two companies were no longer operating because the IUP validity period had ended.

"KKP also found massive damage to the location of the issuance of the IUP which has the potential to disrupt the coastal ecosystem of Citlim Island, considering that mining is carried out in coastal border areas," wrote the official statement of the KKP, Thursday, June 19.

In this regard, the KKP through the Directorate General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (PSDKP) will follow up with supervision and prosecution, as a law enforcement measure in coastal areas and small islands prone to illegal exploitation.

The Director General of Marine Management of the KKP Koswara emphasized that mining is not a priority activity on small islands, as regulated in Law (UU) Number 1 of 2014 concerning Amendments to Law No. 27/2007 concerning Management of Coastal and Small Islands.

mineral mining activities are even prohibited if they cause damage, pollution and harm the community.

"Mining activities have an ecological impact, especially those that are illegal not only violate the law, but also threaten environmental sustainability, damage marine ecosystems and interfere with coastal livelihoods of coastal communities," said Koswara.