The Cause Of Flooding In Aceh, DPRA Asks Mining And Plantations To Be Regulated

Police pass through a pile of wood suspected of being the result of illegal logging in the Mount Seulawah area, Lamteuba Village, Aceh Besar (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Commission II of the Aceh People's Representative Council (DPRA) has asked the regional government to regulate plantations and mining. Activities in these two areas contributed to forest destruction and led to flooding.

"The current flood is due to forest destruction. This flood has caused huge losses to the community," said DPRA Commission II member Yahdi Hasan as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, January 20.

Yahdi said that flooding in a number of areas in Aceh had occurred in the last 2 weeks. Flood-affected areas include Aceh Tamiang District, East Aceh District. Then, Bener Meriah Regency, and Pidie Regency.

According to him, the floods hit several districts in Aceh due to forest damage that was unable to absorb high-intensity rain.

"The flooding seems to have become a routine for the people of Aceh. Therefore, efforts are needed to control plantations and mining which destroy forest areas," said Yahdi.

The Aceh Party politician added that Commission II of the DPRA had summoned related agencies such as the Environment and Forestry Service, the Plantation Service, and the ESDM Mining Service.

The summons were to discuss controlling plantations and mining in forest areas. This discussion is to ensure that there are concrete steps for the Aceh Provincial Government to deal with forest damage that has caused flooding.

"How many losses have been suffered by the community and the government. Floods have become a subscription for some Acehnese people. Therefore, curbing action is needed to overcome the damage to forest areas," said Yahdi.