Bags Of Company Names In Indigenous Riau Islands Forests, DLHK Wanti-wanti Will Sanctions

The sign contains a prohibition on managing protected forests in Mount Lengkuas, Bintan Regency, which is currently in a damaged condition. (PHOTO OF ANTARA/Nikolas Panama)

The Riau Islands (KePRI) Environment and Forestry Service (DLHK) reminded owners of companies active in limited production forest areas (HPT) to fulfill their obligations in accordance with applicable regulations.

Companies in the HPT area that violate the regulations will be subject to sanctions.

Head of the Bintan-Tanjungpinang IV Production Forest Management Unit (KPHP) at the Riau Islands DLHK, Ruah Alim Maha, said the sanctions were in the form of fines calculated from tree damage and profit sharing from the profits made by the company for the state.

"Companies operating in the HPT area must stop their activities before completing their administrative obligations and fines," he said in Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands, Wednesday, December 28, which was confiscated by Antara.

He ensured that the company could resume its activities after fulfilling its obligation to pay sanctions by first registering it with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK).

The government, he said, gave company owners the opportunity to fulfill their obligations for two years. The opportunity ended in March 2023.

"Companies will be punished if they do not fulfill their obligations until March 2023," he said.

Allegedly violating the Regulation

Based on the results of the forestry police investigation, Ruah Alim revealed that there were a number of companies that did not comply with forestry regulations.

Forestry police have put up an announcement seal and board at the location where the company used it. However, there are companies that are naughty, they are still operating even though a "police line" has been installed.

For example, said Ruah Alim, a shipyard company in Senggarang, Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands.

To that end, the forestry police will coordinate with other authorized institutions to take firm action against the company.

Forestry police also found a company carrying out bauxite mining in the HPT area but it is known that its operational documents are not active since several years ago.

There are also companies that are inactive, but claim land in the HPT area that has been managed. Of course, HPT is not allowed to be controlled by the company or traded.

"There is also a resort company in Galang Batang, Bintan, which part of the land used is included in the HPT," he said.

He added that a number of companies are also trying to carry out their obligations, by registering administrative sanctions and submitting applications to manage HPT, such as PT Bina Riau Jaya, PT Tirta Madu, PT Budi Daya Bintan Terminal, PT MIPI.

"The arrangement of this forest area has been carried out nationally since 2021," said Ruah Alim.