Commission VI Will Take Action On All Reports Related To Environmental Damage Due To Mining Activities

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The increasing exploitation of nickel can cause heavy damage to the mining area and its surroundings.

Member of Commission IV DPR HM Salim Fakhry highlighted this and said that the existing mines in Morowali Regency could run according to the rules that had been set.

"We are here as a commission in charge of the environment. There is a letter from the Regent of Morowali, which must also be followed up by Commission IV of the DPR, to discuss with PT Vale Indonesia," said Salim in a statement to the media, Monday, July 18.

Salim added that the ecological environment was also damaged, especially in mining activities that were not environmentally friendly.

In this case, PT Vale Indonesia Tbk, is one of the foreign investment (PMA) mining companies that utilize forest areas for exploration activities and production operations for nickel ore mining.

For this reason, Salim said, Commission IV of the DPR is committed to following up on all reports related to potential environmental damage due to the impact of mining, especially in Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi.

"Follow all the rules of the game, follow all the regulations set by the government, in this case the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK)," said Salim.

Reports that will be followed up, he said, especially those that have occurred in recent years, due to overexploitation, have made major changes to the ecological environment around the mine.

These conditions cause changes to environmental conditions, either directly or indirectly.

"That causes the environmental function to be less or no longer functioning in supporting sustainable development," concluded Salim.