Stop Spreading Fire, KLHK Seals Forest Fire Locations From Four Companies In West Kalimantan

Land fire extinguishing activities in West Kalimantan. (Doc. ANTARA/BPBD West Kalimantan)

PONTIANAK - The Law Enforcement Team of the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) has sealed four locations of forest and land fires (karhutla) owned by companies in West Kalimantan (Kalbar) to stop the spread of fire.

The Director General of Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Rasio Ridho Sani, explained that the supervisory team and Polhut Balai Gakkum KLHK Kalimantan Region had sealed four forest and land fires locations. These four companies are PT. MTI Unit 1 Jelai (1,151 Ha), PT. CG (267 Ha), PT. SUM (168.2 Ha), and PT. FWL (121.24 Ha).

The results of field verification caused the sealing of the location. The follow-up to the four companies that burned involved installing a sign prohibiting activities and lines of environmental supervisory officials (PPLH). One company is currently undergoing an investigation/pulbaket process, while another company has been recommended to be subject to administrative sanctions by the local government.

Rasio Ridho Sani emphasized that the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, together with the Police and the Attorney General's Office, had formed a Forestry Integrated Law Enforcement Task Force. They continue to coordinate with local governments to increase efforts to handle forest and land fires and law enforcement.

Companies involved in forest and land fires must pay attention to the sealing. Those with burned locations may be subject to administrative sanctions, including freezing and revocation of permits. They can also be sued on a civil basis related to environmental compensation, as well as enforcement of criminal law.

The threat of punishment related to forest and land fires is contained in Article 108 of Law No. 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management, which includes a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum fine of 10 billion rupiah.

Ridho Sani's ratio also encourages the person in charge of business/activities not to burn land in the opening or processing of land or to allow land fires to occur in their business/activities locations while still applying the precautionary principle.

He stressed that forest and land fires have a serious impact on public life and health, including the resulting smoke, land damage, loss of biodiversity, and inhibition of climate change efforts. Therefore, law enforcement will be strictly enforced against the perpetrators.

The KLHK Gakkum team continues to monitor suspicious locations of hotspots through fire point data. All Gakkum Balai offices both in Sumatra and Kalimantan have been asked to continue to monitor and carry out field verification and investigate forest and land fires in the company and community areas.

"The law enforcement instrument under the authority of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry will be used to take firm action against the person in charge of businesses/activities for forest and land fires," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, September 2.

Meanwhile, the Director of Complaints for Supervision and Sanctions of the LHK Administration, Ardyanto Nugroho, is committed to enforcing administrative sanctions for those in charge of business and/or activities that violate based on supervision by PPLH at the KLHK Balai Gakkum, Kalimantan Region.

"Forest and land fires are cases that require special attention because of their large impact on the environment, it can even cause cross-border air pollution," said Ardyanto Nugroho.

PPLH will continue to carry out its duties to oversee business and/or activities in order to carry out environmental management in accordance with Environmental Approval and Business Licensing. Until 2023, there have been 90 warning letters issued by PPLH.