Critical Land Due To Illegal Mining In Babylon 167,065 Hectares

Acting Governor of the Bangka Belitung Islands (Babel) Safrizal ZA during tree planting in Terak Village, Central Bangka, Thursday (18/1/2024). ANTARA/HO-Diskominfo Babel

BANGKA - Acting Governor of the Bangka Belitung Islands (Babel) Safrizal ZA stated that critical land due to illegal tin ore mining in the Babel Islands reached 167,065 hectares, so joint efforts were needed to stop illegal mining. "We must stop the activities of illegal miners who make green land critical," said Safrizal ZA during the fruit tree planting movement, in Terak Village, Central Bangka, Antara, Thursday, January 18. He appreciated the tree planting movement activities in the former illegal mining area initiated by Kodam II/Sriwijaya, because it can be a trigger to increase public awareness in restoring and saving water resources and land productivity. "In restoring this critical land, of course, it requires various recovery efforts by involving all parties, not only planting but also taking action against the perpetrators of this illegal tin mining," he said. According to him, strict action against illegal miners is very important, so that they are deterrent and no longer mine lead illegally in productive lands, forests and others. "Imagine, the area of critical land due to this illegal mining activity has reached 167,065 hectares and this must be overcome so that this critical land does not increase," he said again. Danrem 045/Garuda Jaya Brigadier General Agustinus Dedy Prasetyo said the planting of fruit trees was simultaneously carried out in the Kodam II/Sriwijaya area for the initiation of the Commander of Kodam II/Sriwijaya Maj. Gen. Yanuar Adil. "This is our first step to preserve and restore critical land conditions and if it produces it will benefit the surrounding community," he also said.

Simultaneous tree planting is also carried out by providing basic food and plant seeds to the local community, as well as the release of a tree planting expedition team in Bukit Mangkol, Central Bangka Regency.