Ecological Disaster Repeatedly, DPR: Not Enough To Call 'Allowment Must Be Revoked!

Disaster illustration in the city of Padang (doc BNPB)

Member of Commission XII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Ratna Juwita Sari, urged the government to revoke the permits of all companies that damaged the environment in the Batang Toru Watershed (DAS), South Tapanuli, North Sumatra.

Ratna asked the Ministry of Environment (KLH) not to stop at calling the owners of mining and plantation companies operating in the area.

According to him, summoning is no longer an adequate step. This is because he emphasized that the ecological and social losses that occurred were already at an emergency stage, so decisive and measured action was needed.

The losses that arise are very real. This is no longer a matter of being called or not, they must be held accountable. I ask the government to revoke the permits of all companies that have been proven to damage the environment in the Batang Toru watershed," Ratna Juwita told reporters, Tuesday, December 2.

"So are other companies or mining in various regions that clearly damage the environment," he continued.

The PKB legislator also reminded that the state should no longer be ignorant of various ecological disasters that continue to repeat itself. "Are there still fewer people being victims? Is it still unclear to see the suffering of residents due to flash floods? We are all obliged to carry out ecological substances," he said.

Ratna also asked the government to strengthen supervision and enforce environmental law indiscriminately. "As well as closing the entire compromise room for perpetrators of natural destruction," he concluded.

Previously, KLH would summon eight entities suspected of contributing to exacerbate flooding in Batang Toru watershed, North Sumatra because of its operational activities. This was done to trace logs of wood dragged by flash floods in the Sumatra region.

Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, said the institution he leads has identified eight companies in flood-affected areas in Batang Toru watersheds. These companies are engaged in various sectors, including oil palm plantations and gold mining.

"There are eight that are based on our satellite image analysis that contribute to exacerbating [impact] this rain. So, we are investigating and I have asked the Deputy for Law Enforcement (Law Enforcement) to take quick and measurable steps," he said in Jakarta, Monday, December 1.