Again, Bintan Beach Is Polluted Again By Waste Oil

Sand from the beach in Nirwana, one of the tourist areas in Lagoi, Bintan Regency, Riau Islands, is polluted with black, lumpy oil waste. (ANTARA/Nikolas Panama)

BINTAN - A number of beaches in Bintan Regency, Riau Islands, which are tourism areas, have again been polluted by oil waste that is thought to have come from ships.

The chairman of the Indonesian Traditional Fishermen's Union (KNTI) Bintan Syukur Haryanto alias Buyung Adly, suspects that the oil waste comes from foreign ships that dump oil residue or crust from the ship's tank.

The waste is put in sacks, then disposed of at Out Port Limited (OPL) on the Riau Islands border with Singapore. During the north wind season, like today, the waste oil is carried back to the shoreline in Bintan.

"This incident is not the first time this has happened, but it has been several years ago. However, until now it is still happening. We ask law enforcement officials to take action," he said.

Buyung said the oil waste was damaging corals and ecosystems in the waters. In addition, beaches that are used as tourist attractions, such as those in Lagoi and Trikora, have also become polluted. Tourists often complain that their feet are exposed to waste oil, and they are difficult to clean. "Tourism entrepreneurs are becoming increasingly difficult during this pandemic because they are faced with new problems," he said.

According to him, this waste oil also reduces fishermen's income because fish catches are reduced. Fishermen often complain about the unresolved problem of waste oil.

"The state has suffered a lot of losses, and the fishermen who feel the most direct impacts are the fishermen," he said.

Head of the Riau Islands Tourism Office Bulalimar said his party would report the problem to the relevant agencies, because it pollutes beaches in tourism areas.

"Tourism entrepreneurs certainly feel restless, and disadvantaged. We hope this problem will be resolved soon," he said.