The Ministry Of Home Affairs Reminds Local Governments To Build Legal Certainty To Prevent Land Conflicts Obstructing Development

Illustration of Ministry of Home Affairs officers preparing land certificates. (Inter-Mohamad Hamzah)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) has highlighted various land conflicts in the regions because they can hinder development.

"Land conflict is a crucial issue that needs attention," said the Secretary of the Directorate General of Regional Administration of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Indra Gunawan, in a statement received on Thursday, July 14.

Unresolved land conflicts can make conditions in the local area unfavorable. Conflict also makes land unproductive because it is difficult to use, he added.

"How do you want to build (and) increase economic growth if the area is not conducive," he said, according to Antara.

Therefore, according to him, local governments need to build legal certainty in managing land, including when setting regional boundaries. This legal certainty is important so that the regions can formulate appropriate development plans.

"It is also important for the regional government to continue to innovate and always provide excellent service to the community," he explained.

He explained that the problems of land conflicts in the regions must be resolved together, both the central government, regional governments, and related stakeholders.

In addition, he continued, coordination and synchronization with ministries and non-ministerial government institutions (K/L), the central government, as well as local governments regarding strategies and solutions to land problems are needed.

"In addition, the regional government must also develop the competence of the human resources of the land apparatus in the region; and this should be improved. Then, the regional government also needs to pay attention to the priorities of programs and activities in preparing planning and budgeting in the land sector," he concluded.