AHY Reminds Development in Mandalika Must Not Sacrifice the Environment

“Everything that is illegal must be subject to firm and certainly fair law enforcement.”

Mataram (ANTARA) — Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) has reminded that development in every region of Indonesia, including the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (KEK Mandalika) in Central Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, must not sacrifice the environment.

AHY was responding to the proliferation of development that disregards environmental impacts, including the presence of illegal mines in tourist destination areas such as KEK Mandalika in Central Lombok Regency, NTB.

“Everything that is illegal must be subject to firm and certainly fair law enforcement. But this must apply everywhere, including in the Mandalika area,” he said, after attending the Langit Biru Indonesia Asri event at Ampenan Beach, Mataram City, on Friday.

He said that, in principle, the development paradigm going forward must not merely pursue high economic growth while neglecting the sustainability of the environment’s carrying capacity for future generations.

“We do want to pursue high economic growth and improve public welfare, but we must not sacrifice the living environment either. This is what is meant by the balance between prosperity and sustainability,” AHY affirmed.

According to him, efforts to balance development with welfare must also be accompanied by serious endeavours to safeguard environmental sustainability. Because, in the end, all of it will be accounted for before the next generation.

Therefore, AHY continued, preventive efforts are needed to ensure that all forms of damage and extraction do not become excessive exploitation that harms nature, let alone triggers disasters in the future.

“What is most important and better is to prevent the damage before it occurs,” he added.