JAKARTA - Dozens of residents and environmental activists who are members of the Gunung Slamet Presidium Towards the National Park and Community Deliberation Baseh urged the government to permanently close the PT Dinar Batu Agung (DBA) mine in Bukit Jenar, Baseh Village, Banyumas Regency, Central Java.
In a demonstration held in front of the Banyumas Regency DPRD building, the Lotus Pandang Tower complex, Purwokerto, the crowd highlighted the environmental impact of four years of stone mining activities in Baseh Village, Kedungbanteng District.
"We ask the Banyumas Regency DPRD to immediately summon all relevant parties to follow up on the increasingly worrying damage," said Head of the Gunung Slamet Presidium Towards Andi Rustono National Park as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, December 9.
He said the operation of PT DBA had damaged at least 19 fish ponds belonging to residents and resulted in 24 hectares of rice fields being buried in sediment, sand, and gravel.
In fact, thick sedimentation carried by rainwater has changed the soil structure and damaged the quality of pool water and reduced agricultural productivity.
"The existence of this mine has inherited natural damage. The thick sediment that was carried away by the rainwater entered the pool, damaged the water quality, and buried the soil structure of the rice fields," he said.
He said the current temporary closure was not enough to prevent further damage. In addition to threatening environmental sustainability, mining activities are considered to endanger the main spring source which is the focus of more than 100 families in Baseh Village.
According to him, waste and mining materials also cause pollution, erode biodiversity, and endanger road users.
In this regard, the Presidium of Mount Slamet Towards the National Park and the Baseh Community Deliberation urges the local government through the Regent of Banyumas and the Banyumas Regency DPRD to take firm action against alleged violations of permits and mining practices deemed irresponsible.
In this case, his party filed three main demands, namely the permanent closure of PT DBA's operations, the renormalization of damaged rice fields and ponds, as well as the provision of full compensation to farmers and pool owners.
In addition, his party asked the Banyumas Regency DPRD to immediately facilitate the hearing by presenting the Regent of Banyumas, the owner of PT DBA, the Head of the Branch of the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) of the South Slamet Region of Central Java, as well as other related parties as an effort to follow up on these demands.
"This step is important to prevent a bigger disaster from befalling the people of Baseh. We demand the government's commitment so that this damage does not continue," Andi emphasized.
Previously, in a coordination meeting of the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) of Central Java Province with the Regional leadership coordination Forkopimda in Central Java, Banyumas Regent Sadewo Tri Lastiono reported three problematic mining sites in his area to the Governor of Central Java Ahmad Luthfi.
He said the first problem was in the Cilongok District which borders Bumiayu District, Brebes Regency.
According to him, on the southern slopes of Mount Slamet, there was a geothermal power plant project that failed and was not continued by PT Sejahtera Alam Energi (PT SAE), so the company is now focusing on reforestation to restore the affected areas.
"Second, in the form of a stone mine in Baseh Village, Kedungbanteng District, which has drawn resistance from the community," he said.
According to him, the mining activity has been temporarily closed while waiting for completion in accordance with applicable regulations.
Meanwhile, the third, he said, was the existence of sand and land mines in Gandatapa Village, Sumbang District, which also sparked complaints from residents and needed further handling.
"Today I will submit it to the Governor regarding the mining reports at those locations. Cilongok has been handled, Baseh and Gandatapa are still problematic," said Sadewo.
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