KLHK Seals 6 Locations Of Forest And Land Fires In South Sumatra

KLHK Law Enforcement Officers prepare a sign prohibiting activities to seal the location of forest and land fires in South Sumatra, Monday (18/9/2023). (ANTARA/HO-Ministry of Environment and Forestry)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) through the environmental control team and forestry police sealed six locations of forest and land fires in South Sumatra (Sumsel).

"At that location, a board has been installed prohibiting activities and protection lines and environmental management (PPLH) to avoid greater environmental damage," said the Director General of Environmental and Forestry Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ratio Ridho Sani, as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, September 26.

The sealing locations are mostly in the Ogan Komering Regency area, namely PT KS approximately 25 hectares, PT BKI approximately 60 hectares, PT SAM around 30 hectares, PT RAJ 1,000 hectares, and other land in Kedaton Kayu Agung Ogan Komering Ilir whose ownership is approximately 1,200 hectares, and PT WAJ approximately 1,000 hectares.

Rasio explained that the sealing of the location of forest and land fires by the supervisory team was an initial effort made to prevent the spread of the impact of the fire.

The sealing policy is in accordance with the authority of Article 74 paragraph (1) letter j of Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management.

"We continue to coordinate with local governments and the task force for handling forest and land fires to streamline handling efforts, including law enforcement efforts," said Rasio.

In accordance with the Instruction of the President of Indonesia Number 3 of 2020 concerning Forest and Land Fire Management, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry continues to strive to strengthen prevention and law enforcement as an effort to deal with forest and land fires.

Intensive monitoring activities are carried out in order to detect locations where there are indications of hotspots and hotspots. Field verification is carried out as the first step to take action and prevent the spread of the impact of the fire.

If it is proven that there was intentional or negligence, 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 the business and activities of forest and land fires.

"Sanctions for companies whose concession areas occur in fires can be in the form of administrative sanctions for coercion by the government or freezing and revocation of permits, as well as enforcement of criminal law," said Rasio.

For companies that are proven negligent or intentionally burning forests and land, they are threatened with a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum fine of Rp. 10 billion.

The sentence is in accordance with the provisions of Article 108 of Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management.

In addition, companies can also be subject to administrative sanctions and criminal law. In fact, law enforcement on forest and land burning can also be carried out through civil lawsuits for environmental compensation.

The ratio of conveying cases of forest and land fires must be a special concern, because it has a direct impact on the environment and public health.

"We are committed to continuing to carry out our duties in accordance with the authority to prevent and take firm action against perpetrators of forest and land fires," he concluded.