Nusron Calls 65,000 Rice Fields Buried In Sumatra Flood Mud Potentially Becomes New Land Mafia Field

Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Nusron Wahid. (Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Nusron Wahid revealed that the floods that hit Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra have the potential to become new fields for the land mafia.

The reason, said Nusron, is that there are 65,000 rice fields in the three provinces covered by flood mud.

"It means that there is a potential for the rice fields to be destroyed. Now, if the rice fields are destroyed, it is certain that there are mafia players claiming it. Right, the limits will also be lost. Now, this will be our note," Nusron told reporters after the National Working Meeting (Rakernas) of the Ministry of ATR/BPN 2025 in Jakarta, Monday, December 8.

According to Nusron, if the rice fields have been certified, the potential for grabbing by the land mafia will be smaller.

"If they happen to have been certified, it's safe, because there are still limits to our spatial data. However, those who have not been registered are a bit of a hassle," he said.

In addition, Nusron also emphasized the need for a revision of the spatial arrangement on the island of Sumatra due to floods that have claimed nearly thousands of lives based on data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) as of December 8, 2025.

"What is a better decision? A revision of the spatial planning, so that the same incident does not repeat itself," he said.

Nusron assessed that the Sumatra region had lost the infiltration area, so the water could not be absorbed into the ground and finally filled the existing spaces, namely settlements.

"Because the absorption buffer used to be plants, trees, trees were gone. So how do you not (flood) this? Yes, return it to the tree used to be space, which is now replaced into space for others, return that space to the tree," he explained.

The Golkar politician is also ready to carry out President Prabowo Subianto's instructions regarding the revocation of the Cultivation Rights (HGU) of oil palm companies for land for the construction of housing for victims affected by the Sumatra floods.

Dia bilang, HGU perusahaan sawit akan dicabut adalah yang berdiri di atas tanah Hak Pengelolaan (HPL) milik negara.

"Ya siap (cabut HGU), tidak masalah. Artinya kalau masyarakat membutuhkan hunian tetap dan tidak ada lahan tersedia, nanti kami akan minta pada lahannya para pengusahaan, lahan negara yang hari ini menjadi HGU-HGU di kota tersebut," jelasnya.

He said the HGU of palm oil companies would be revoked as those standing on state-owned Rights (HPL) land.

"Yes, ready (revocation of the HGU), no problem. This means that if the community needs permanent housing and there is no available land, later we will ask the land for entrepreneurs, state land which is today the HGU-HGU in the city," he explained.