What Is Buffer Zone And Its Function For The TBBM Area

Illustration of buffer zone (Photo from Antara)

YOGYAKARTA - Social observer Dr Mukhijab stated the importance of buffer zones in the Plumpang Fuel Terminal (TBBM) area. Buffer zone is a security zone for national vital objects (Obvitnas).

What is meant by Obvitnas is the area/location, building/installation and/or business involving the livelihoods of many people, the interests of the state and strategic sources of state income.

"Buffer zone is very important. Because living around Obvitnas like TBBM Plumpang, it is certainly very dangerous. So it is indeed concerning in terms of safety and very risky," said Dr Mukhijab in his statement in Jakarta, Sunday (12/3) as reported by Antara.

Mukhijab considers that the large number of people living in the buffer zone area is a social phenomenon in Indonesia, especially in urban areas. However, there are still many people who do not know what buffer zones are and their functions are.

Buffer zone is an area/space that is part of a green open space serving as a buffer zone. Based on the official website of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), buffer zones or buffer zones need to exist in each fuel oil depot (BBM).

Because the fuel depot is an area around which there are substances that are prone to fire, so it is a dangerous area. The purpose of the buffer zone in each fuel depot is to avoid unwanted dangerous risks.

That is why it is necessary to have land acquired or reforestation areas around the fuel depot location. The existence of buffer zones or buffer zones is a safety in these dangerous areas. Buffer zones are part of the aspects of HSSE (Health, Safety, Security and Environment) around the burning reservoir area.

The Plumpang TBBM area needs a more adequate safe zone because the distance from residential areas is too close to the depot. It is feared that this condition could endanger public safety.

President Joko Widodo said that the construction of a buffer zone in the Pertamina Plumpang Depot had actually been planned. President Jokowi said that the Plumpang area should be a water zone, not a densely populated settlement.

"In the past, it was planned to make water on the river's left right," said Jokowi at the location of the Pertamina Plumpang Depot fire on Sunday (5/3/2023).

However, the plan to build a buffer zone has not yet reached the search for solutions for residents living around the Pertamina Plumpang Depot. President Jokowi asked the Acting Governor of DKI Heru Budi Hartono and SOE Minister Erick Thohir to act quickly to find solutions to this problem.

Dr Mukhijab believes that the large number of people living in the buffer zone area is a social phenomenon in the country. The reason is because it is difficult for the poor to buy houses and land existence is very limited. Many people then behave pragmatically and ignore aspects of safety and legality.

"So the problem lies in the socio-economics. They know that land is prohibited from being inhabited and related to the safety of state assets, but they often justify any means to stay," said Dr Mukhijab.

Dr Mukhijab gave an example of the importance of buffer zones in communities living in volcanic areas. Residents who live on volcanic slopes are not allowed to live within a certain distance from the top of the mountain. Residents are also aware of the various bad risks that can be hit.

Dr Mukhijab emphasized that related parties should be firm on these problems, even though the problem is related to socio-economics. Officials should prohibit it when residents start approaching Obvitnas and live there.

Demikianlah review tentang apa itu buffer zone dan pentingnya keberadaannya di Obvitnas, seperti TBBM Plumpang. Buffer zone adalah kawasan yang merupakan bagian dari ruang terbuka hijau untuk pengaman di area berbahaya.

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