247,913 Land Parcels in NTB at Risk of Latent Disputes

Mataram, Kompas.com — West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) is currently facing serious agrarian conflict risks. The massive infrastructure and tourism development in the region harbours potential latent disputes involving hundreds of thousands of land parcels. The issue is not merely about ownership but the “blindness” of spatial data on old certificates that have not yet been digitally integrated. He highlighted the phenomenon of KW 4, 5, and 6 certificates, technical terms for certificates that have been issued but lack clear cadastral maps or have not entered the national digital system. Based on data presented at the Coordination Meeting (Rakor) at the NTB Governor’s Office on Friday (10/04/2026), there are around 247,913 land parcels or equivalent to 7.5 percent of the total certificates in NTB that fall into the KW 4, 5, and 6 categories. This figure is considered a “red zone” vulnerable to exploitation by land mafias, especially in urban areas where land prices are skyrocketing. Nusron has instructed collaborative efforts between local governments down to the village level to conduct mass data updates. The condition of old certificates, which are merely paper without precise map coordinates, makes land boundaries unreadable in modern systems. As a result, one plot of land could be claimed by another party applying for a new certificate, or overlaps occur leading to prolonged legal lawsuits. Besides administrative matters, Nusron emphasised that the best defence for landowners is physical possession on the ground. He straightforwardly explained how BPN officers assess whether a land is truly controlled by the applicant or not. This serves as a warning to landowners who leave their land neglected or without boundary markers (stakes). Land that appears “ownerless” physically often becomes an entry point for irresponsible parties to carry out illegal occupation. Nusron also encouraged the people of NTB not to hesitate in carrying out data purification procedures. “Replace the certificate if necessary. Request a re-measurement from ATR/BPN. Because the data here (potential disputes) is still high,” he concluded.