The Ministry of Environment and Forestry Arranges Strategic Efforts to Handle Lapindo Lumpur

SIDOARJO - The Ministry of Environment and the Environment Control Agency are preparing a Strategic Environmental Assessment (KLHS) in an effort to handle the Lapindo mud in Sidoarjo, East Java.

The Minister of LH and Head of BPLH, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, stated that the preparation of the KLHS was an effort by the government to update all aspects of disaster management related to which currently still refer to Law Number 23 of 1997 concerning Environmental Management.

"In fact, in Law Number 32 of 2009, all activities, planning, and programs must be carefully prepared through the KLHS to ensure safe handling for the affected environment," said Hanif when reviewing the Lapindo mud location in Porong District, Sidoarjo, quoting ANTARA on Sunday, February 8.

The Minister of LH explained that the handling activities carried out were also required to have environmental approval which was also regulated in Law No. 32 of 2009 concerning the Protection and Management of the Environment.

The two important documents will soon be prepared by the LH Ministry together with the Ministry of Public Works (PU) in order to ensure that the handling of the Lapindo mud disaster is in accordance with the administrative and legal corridors.

"These two things must be done very carefully, especially to reduce the amount of mud flowing into the Porong River, which is an ecological infrastructure that must not be disturbed or polluted. Disturbances to the river can have a very big impact, both upstream, downstream, even at the mouth," said Hanif.

Hanif appreciated the performance of the Sidoarjo Lumpur Control Center (PPLS) in ensuring that the mud control was carried out well. At the same time, he promised to immediately complete this KLHS as a form of supervision of the aspects of handling the Sidoarjo mud which has been a problem for years.