LH Ministry Chase Fines 1,369 Companies Triggering Disasters

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Environment (KLH) is pursuing the enforcement of fines against 1,369 companies in 14 provinces for environmental violations that are suspected of contributing to disasters, as it evaluates mining activities in a number of areas including 185 companies in South Kalimantan.

Minister of LH Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said the government had mapped around 185 mining activities in South Kalimantan, both legal and illegal, to match with the environmental approvals that had been issued.

He said that some cases had entered the civil legal process through environmental lawsuits, while a number of business actors had fulfilled their obligations by paying fines to the state.

"Some have completed the mandate by making payments so that to this day the Ministry of Environment and Energy has deposited Rp1.5 trillion into the country from various types of similar activities," said Hanif as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, April 20.

The LH Ministry continues to continue field evaluations by sending expert teams to ensure compliance with environmental governance, especially during the rainy season which is at risk of increasing the impact of environmental damage.

He said the results of the evaluation of illegal mining activities would be confirmed to the regional government and related ministries for further handling according to their respective authorities.

In addition, the LH Ministry is also investigating the alleged connection between mining activities and the flood incident which caused a number of villages to be affected, with handling carried out by a law enforcement team (Gakkum).

"The enforcement of this law is focused on the collection of fines and environmental recovery obligations from violators, in order to reduce the impact of damage that contributes to disasters such as floods in a number of regions," said Minister Hanif.

Through these efforts, the LH Ministry targets an increase in compliance by business actors while ensuring that environmental recovery is effective in reducing the risk of future disasters.