4,000 Illegal Mining Hectares In The Heart Of IKN, Quick Action Task Force Takes Strict Action

SEPTAKU - The Nusantara Capital's Illegal Activity Management Task Force (IKN) found at least 4,000 hectares of unlicensed mines in the IKN delineation area, covering parts of North Penajam Paser Regency and Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan.

"The task force found about 4,000 hectares of unlicensed mining areas in the IKN delineation area," said Head of the IKN Authority Basuki Hadimuljono, in Sepaku, North Penajam Paser, Antara, Monday, October 27.

Basuki emphasized that the illegal mining activity had caused environmental damage and caused significant economic and social losses. He ensured that the Task Force would take firm steps to stop all illegal activities in the IKN area.

"All illegal activities will be dealt with firmly, and mining entrepreneurs are required to re-refund or replant in the former mining area," he said.

The Task Force has installed a number of banned signs in protected forest areas so that no party returns to carry out mining activities without permission.

The Indonesian National Police also supports this step. Karo Ops Polda East Kalimantan, Kombes Dedi Suryadi, emphasized that his party is ready to collaborate with the IKN Authority to curb all illegal activities in the potential area of the nation's capital.

Similar support was provided by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM). Director of Criminal Enforcement of the Directorate General of Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Ma'mun, appealed to business actors to immediately take care of the legality of their operations.

"The ministry always supports it, because enormous natural wealth can be used for the benefit of the community. Please let the public learn how to take care of administration so that businesses can be legally registered," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the East Kalimantan Forestry Service, Joko Istanto, stated that his party would continue to coordinate with the IKN Authority to clean up areas from illegal mining activities and other environmental violations.

The IKN Illegal Activity Management Task Force was formed to prevent and handle various activities that violate regulations, such as illegal mining, land clearing, illegal development in protected forest areas, as well as other activities that damage IKN spatial planning and ecosystems.