KLHK Asks Authority To Immediately Evaluate The Existence Of Illegal Mining In IKN, This Is The Reason

Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Bambang Hendroyono. (Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) asked the Archipelago Capital Authority (OIKN) to immediately evaluate the existence of illegal mines in IKN.

This is an anticipation so that similar incidents do not happen again.

"Especially for an IKN strategic environment, it must be re-evaluated and even if it is (illegal mining) it must not be continued, yes, it will not be continued," said KLHK Secretary General Bambang Hendroyono at his office, Tuesday, April 23.

Bambang said that currently IKN has become a national strategic area, so that the recovery due to illegal mining must be carried out.

"So, the important thing is that we guarantee the legality and he must be completed. His productivity is no longer continued, it doesn't mean that there is a new problem," he said.

He considered that the problem related to illegal mining would soon be resolved if the IKN development itself still refers to the IKN's Biodiversity Management Master Plan (Kehati).

"There must be a solution to all activities in IKN, must return to the national strategic plan, especially the national strategic area of IKN because they have a master plan for IKN and a spatial plan for IKN," he said.

According to Bambang, the Saya Kehati Main Plan has shown the extent of the function of protected and cultivation forest areas or functions for other uses.

"If it is in a protected function, the area will return to the natural function process. If it is indeed a business function, it is managed with new governance," he added.

As previously reported, OIKN admitted that it had not been able to fully stop mining activities in the Nusantara State Capital (IKN) area. This is because there are around 60 mining permits that are still active today.

Deputy for Environment and Natural Resources of the IKN Authority, Myrna Safitri, said that her party was faced with a dilemma.

On the one hand, these activities damage the environment. But on the other hand, the holders of these permits must still fulfill their rights.

"We also admit that there are still active permits. So, from the consolidation of data that we have carried out in the last 6 months, maybe around 60 active mining permits in the IKN area with various durations of permits expired," said Myrna in the agenda of the Public Consultation Plan for the Management of Biodiversity Management. The capital city of Nusantara virtually, Wednesday, December 27.

Thus, mining permits must still be continued in line with the valid duration.

In anticipating the current condition, said Myrna, his party took a stand by increasing supervision of environmental obligations.

"So that the obligations of the permit holders can be completed, both in the form of reclamation and post-mining. We are also preparing reclamation guidelines. Well, it is hoped that next year the holders of active permits will also make special efforts to carry out reclamation and post-mining well," said Myrna.