The Minister Of Forestry Is Still Investigating The Sources And Status Of Wood Dragged By Floods

JAKARTA - Minister of Forestry (Menhut) Raja Juli Antoni said he was still investigating the origin and status of logs being dragged by floods, where the Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) has identified a company that is indicated to be the factor causing flooding in Sumatra.

"Yes, once again it is not yet at the examination stage, but the identification of legal subjects who may be involved has been carried out," said the Minister of Transportation in response to reporters' questions after a meeting with the National Police Chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, in Jakarta on Thursday, December 4.

He explained that his party was still investigating the source of the wood, whether it came from illegal logging, wood that was piled up from land clearing for oil palm or mining plantations, and the potential came from Land Rights Holders (PHAT).

"So the natural forest in other areas of use (APL) is indeed a natural forest but not in forest areas but in APL it becomes one of the modes of timber laundering. What is it? Later we will explore it together," he said.

The Ministry of Transportation and the National Police themselves have formed an investigation team to find sources of wood that were dragged by floods in a number of Sumatra locations. Including large numbers of logs in flood areas in South Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra.

The Minister of Forestry said that the ranks of the National Police themselves had been dispatched to two areas in the Garoga watershed and the Anggoli area around Batang Toru, North Sumatra.

"However, I think concretely it is better for the team to work in synergy and we will report it regularly to the public," he explained.

Previously, the Minister of Transportation conveyed that in a working meeting with Commission IV of the DPR today, his party had identified 12 companies in North Sumatra that were indicated to have committed violations and were one of the flood factors in the area.