KLH Seals Sawit Garden Area In Central Tapanuli In The Aftermath Of The Sumatra Disaster

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Environment (KLH) has sealed and installed surveillance signs in the plantation operational area and palm oil factory PT Tri Bahhir Srikandi (PT TBS) in Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra (North Sumatra), in response to the Sumatra flood.

"This step is to strengthen government supervision of business activities that have the potential to affect water administration and public safety," said the Minister of Environment (LH)/Head of the Environmental Control Agency (BPLH), Hanif Faisol Nurofiq in a statement, Thursday, quoted by Antara.

Hanif ordered sealing and surveillance boards on Sunday 7 December.

He said that the sealing of the plantation operational area and palm oil factory of PT TBS, which is a subsidiary of PT Sago Nauli Plantation (PT SNP), was to temporarily suspend operations that could potentially worsen hydrological conditions and ensure compliance with environmental provisions for the safety of the community and ecosystem recovery.

The action chronology begins with monitoring after extreme rainfall and reports of environmental impacts at several points in North Sumatra. The KLH/BPLH supervisory team conducted field verification and found indications of land management practices that needed clarification.

Based on preliminary findings, KLH/BPLH installed surveillance signs and sealed the operational area of PT FFB to stop risky activities until information and environmental documents were verified.

"This sealing is not the final punishment, but the first step to ensure that all environmental obligations are fulfilled and that the company's activities do not worsen the ecological conditions around it," said Hanif.

Hanif ensured that the legal and administrative processes would run according to the provisions.

KLH/BPLH requested an official statement from PT SNP as the parent company and summoned related parties to provide Amdal documents, environmental permits, as well as evidence of the implementation of environmental management and monitoring measures.

Environmental Supervisors will assess administrative and technical compliance, including the implementation of soil conservation practices, drainage management, and erosion mitigation efforts relevant to flood control.

The sealing action is carried out in line with the authority of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to enforce environmental regulations and protect the function of protected areas and water management.

KLH/BPLH stated that the sealing is temporary and will be revoked if the company can show fulfillment of environmental obligations and adequate improvement plans. If serious violations are found, KLH/BPLH will continue the administrative process and law enforcement in accordance with applicable regulations.

His party also instructed cross-sectoral coordination with provincial, district and technical agencies to accelerate recovery, clean up materials that hinder river flow, and rearrange risky areas.

The public is asked to remain calm but vigilant, while the KLH/BPLH will publish developments in the results of the examination and transparent improvement measures.

"We will continue to monitor, evaluate, and follow up on every plantation activity and palm oil factories that have the potential to affect water management and public safety. Environmental compliance is not an option, but an obligation," said Hanif.