KLH Seals 200 Hectares Of Ex-Carhutla Land In West Kalimantan, Entrepreneur Sanctions Ignore Air Pollution

Officers from the KLH Gakkum Team sealed the burnt land in Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan. BETWEEN/HO-KLH

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Environment (KLH) has sealed a burnt land with an area of about 200 hectares (ha) in Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan (Kalbar). This effort responds to forest and land fires (karhutla) that trigger increased hotspots and decreased air quality.

"This sealing is a form of law enforcement against business actors who ignore the obligation to control air pollution. We will continue to take firm steps against every similar violation in other areas," said Deputy for Law Enforcement (Gakkum) of the Ministry of Environment and Environment Control Agency (BPLH) Rizal Irawan in Jakarta, Monday, confiscated by Antara.

He said the sealing was carried out in two locations, namely Pematang Tujuh Village, Rasau Jaya District and Punggur Besar Village, Sungai Kakap District. The land that was sealed was directly adjacent to the PT PD concession area and separated by a ditch six meters wide.

The sealing was led directly by the Deputy for Gakkum KLH/BPLH Rizal Irawan accompanied by the Director of Complaints and Environmental Supervision of KLH/BPLH Ardyanto Nugroho, Kubu Raya Police Chief, Manggala Agni Kalimantan Region, Danramil Rasau Jaya, and the West Kalimantan Provincial Environment Service.

The sealing was carried out because of a strong indication of land clearing by burning, which was a violation of environmental law provisions.

KLH/BPLH stated that these efforts were part of the government's commitment to taking firm action against business actors who did not carry out air pollution control and fire prevention obligations.

Based on a written report from PT PD to the Head of Pematang Tujuh Village with a copy to the Rasau Jaya Koramil and Rasau Jaya Police, the fire began to be detected on Saturday, July 26, at 15.27 WIB. The blackout process lasted until Saturday (2/8) in the morning with rain helping to extinguish the last hotspot.

Director of Environmental Complaints and Supervision of KLH/BPLH Ardyanto Nugroho said his party would submit the law enforcement process on the alleged land burning crime to the West Kalimantan Police.

The government also reminded all companies to increase vigilance during the dry season and ensure that all fire prevention and control systems, including the readiness of personnel and infrastructure, run optimally.

"We encourage all companies to seriously carry out fire control obligations. When a fire broke out, what we saw was not only the location of the fire, but also the concrete commitments and steps that had been taken previously," he said.