Nusron Wahid Recovers 717 Transmigrant Land Certificates in South Kalimantan

Minister of ATR/BPN Nusron Wahid (Photo: VOI doc)

JAKARTA - Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Nusron Wahid has restored 717 ownership certificates (SHM) for transmigrants in Bekambit Village, Kotabaru Regency, South Kalimantan Province (Kalsel), whose land was occupied by a mining company.

In the land of the transmigrant community, the PT Sebuku Sajaka Coal Mining Business Permit (IUP) has been issued.

Nusron said that the transmigrants received SHM in 1990 from the local BPN office. However, in 2010, an IUP was issued at the same location. Then in 2019, BPN Kalsel canceled the SHM of the transmigrant community on the basis of a request from the head of the local village at that time.

"Continuing to 2019, upon the request of the local village head, a letter of request for cancellation of the certificate was issued," said Nusron as quoted from a written statement, Wednesday, February 11.

However, Nusron assessed that the legal basis used by the head of the BPN regional office at that time was wrong. Based on this consideration, the Ministry of ATR/BPN decided to restore 717 SHM to the public.

"After going through a long mechanism, referring to Article 11 in the Regulation of the Minister of ATR/Head of BPN Number 19 of 2016, the South Kalimantan Provincial BPN Regional Office (Kanwil) then canceled as many as 717 land certificates on an area of 485 hectares (ha)," he said.

According to Nusron, the mediation of land disputes between transmigrant communities and PT Sebuku Sajaka Coal (PT SSC) has actually been taking place since January 2025, but there has been no agreement. The follow-up mediation will be carried out after 717 SHM communities have been restored to ATR/BPN so that the residents' bargaining position is better.

In the mediation to be held in the future, Nusron asked, the IUP holder to pay compensation to the community of certificate holders who will be restored.

"Hopefully, the agreement can provide a solution for companies and the community," he added.