'Concessionaires not paying contributions'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Forestry announced yesterday
\nthat unpaid mandatory forest contributions reached more than Rp
\n9.9 billion (US$4.39 million) as of September last year, with
\nonly 36 percent disbursed as of August.<\/p>\n
The ministry's inspector general, Hariadi Darmawan, in a
\nhearing with House Commission IV, which oversees forestry and
\nagricultural affairs, said yesterday the figures were based on
\nreports from the Government Audit Agency.<\/p>\n
\"There has been difficulty in collecting the unpaid
\ncontributions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hariadi said the difficulties included lack of qualified
\nmanpower to conduct supervision and monitoring activities in the
\nfield.<\/p>\n
\"The activities currently done by the office mainly focus on
\nlaw enforcement measures. We are working toward a comprehensive
\ntype of supervision, which will cover all aspects of a
\nconcessionaire, including its policy, planning and personnel
\nmanagement,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hariadi said the arrears of mandatory contributions consisted
\nof Rp 2.76 billion in forest royalties and $3.19 million in
\nreforestation funds.<\/p>\n
Forest concessionaires and holders of logging permits are
\nrequired to pay contributions to maintain forest sustainability.<\/p>\n
Hariadi said that out of the unpaid forest royalties of Rp
\n2.76 billion recorded by the auditing agency, about Rp 1 billion
\n(36.24 percent) has so far been compensated, Rp 369.45 million
\n(13.37 percent) is still being processed, while the cases
\ninvolving the remaining Rp 1.39 billion (50.39 percent) have been
\nhanded over to the State Receivership Agency.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, from the unpaid reforestation funds of $3.19
\nmillion detected by the auditing agency last September, $1.14
\nmillion (35.88 percent) was paid in August, $360,365 (11.3
\npercent) is still due, while the cases involving the remaining
\n$1.68 million (52.82 percent) have been handed over to the State
\nReceivership Agency.<\/p>\n
Hariadi said that companies whose financial obligations have
\nbeen handed over to the State Receivership Agency are those which
\nhave either gone bankrupt or can no longer be found at their
\naddresses.<\/p>\n
Most of them, he added, are also long-time debtors.<\/p>\n
Hariadi said companies in Central Java that had not paid
\ncontributions include PT Flototto Indonesia, PT Wirasta Guna
\nMandiri and PT Rimba Cendana Indonesia Putra.<\/p>\n
In East Java, companies failing to pay contributions include
\nPT Bina Satya Makmur, PT Sutera, PT Sura Indah Wood and Rimba
\nLancar, while those in Aceh include PT Dina Maju, PT Singkil
\nTimber and PT Asdal.<\/p>\n
Hariadi also recorded violations of logging activities and
\ntimber distributions, with penalties reaching a total of Rp 3.95
\nbillion.<\/p>\n
The violators included PT Karya Gading Indah, PT Karya Alam
\nPrima and PT Kandangan Kayu Indah in East Java; PT Andalas Merapi
\ntimber in West Sumatra; and PT Inhutani IV and PT Alas Helau in
\nAceh. (pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/concessionaires-not-paying-contributions-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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