Anticipating Forest and Land Fires, Banten Forms Integrated Task Force to Secure Landfill Areas

The Banten Regional Police (Polda Banten) together with the Banten Provincial Government (Pemprov Banten) have formed an Integrated Task Force (Satgas Terpadu) to guard a number of vulnerable points against potential forest and land fires (karhutla) during the peak of the dry season. Banten Police Chief Inspector General Hengki stated in Serang on Monday that the deployment of this joint task force focuses on securing landfill sites (TPA) scattered across the Banten region, such as the Jatiwaringin, Bagendung, and Cilowong landfills. “We have prepared everything at the integrated posts, both personnel and infrastructure such as fire engines, ambulances, and field kitchens ready for use at any time should a fire occur,” Hengki said after leading the Forest and Land Fire Disaster Preparedness Roll Call. The Banten Police Chief further emphasised that his party is also intensifying patrols and education to prevent the public from carelessly clearing land by burning. “For parties who deliberately carry out burning, according to the provisions of the environmental law, there is a threat of criminal sanctions of more than five years,” he said. “There is already methane gas accumulated over many years at the landfills and this needs to be anticipated. There must be no sparks, no waste burning activities, and this requires joint coordination,” he stated. In addition to anticipating forest and land fires, Andra Soni added that the Banten Provincial Government is currently mapping areas affected by extreme drought, which the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicts will peak in August, to ensure clean water aid can be distributed quickly to communities in need.