Tourism For The Anai Valley Of West Sumatra Illegal, BKSDA Collaborates With The Police To Visit The Owner

Bath tourism in the Batang Anai River, Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra Province (West Sumatra). (Between)

The Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) stated that the bathing tourism activity in the Batang Anai River, Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra Province (West Sumatra), was illegal or unlicensed.

"We make sure the bathing place is illegal," said Head of the West Sumatra Province BKSDA Lugi Hartanto in Padang, Sunday, February 2, confiscated by Antara.

The head of the BKSDA said that until now no activities or buildings have been allowed to stand along the Batang Anai River.

The BKSDA also immediately coordinated with the police and stakeholders to visit the location of the bath.

"We will go to the bathing location and ask for clarification from the owner or manager," he said.

According to Lugi, the BKSDA together with the local government have installed information boards that read a ban on activities including building along riverbanks. This step was taken following the cold lava and galodo disasters on May 11, 2024.

Unfortunately, even though they have installed warning boards and socialized the ban on building buildings, there are still people who are stubborn or do not heed and establish bathing facilities in prohibited locations.

"That's what sets up a bathing place on the edge of the river for residents who are stubborn and don't listen to the ban, even though this is very dangerous," he said.

Lugi added that currently the West Sumatra BKSDA together with related ministries are currently processing documents or complete requirements for the area along the Batang Anai River to be designated as a nature reserve.

"The recommendation is to become a nature reserve and is still waiting for the process," he said.

Previously, on May 11, 2024, a number of points in Agam Regency, Tanah Datar Regency, and Padang Panjang City were hit by cold lava floods from Mount Marapi and Mount Singgalang.

The disaster that claimed at least 63 people's lives also caused the national road connecting Padang City and Bukittinggi City to break completely. One of the most severe points affected by the disaster is around the Batang Anai River, precisely in the Anai Valley area.