Environment Minister: No tolerance for land burners

Banjarbaru (ANTARA) - Environment Minister Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat has stressed that there is no tolerance whatsoever for perpetrators of land burning, as the practice is the main cause of forest and land fires (karhutla) that impact communities.

“This can no longer be tolerated in the current situation,” said Jumhur while reviewing karhutla handling on Jalan Kurnia, Landasan Ulin Barat, Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, on Monday.

“The practice of land burning on the grounds of convenience and low cost cannot be tolerated under the current karhutla conditions. Therefore, the government is ensuring that law enforcement against land burners continues,” he said.

Jumhur revealed that police have named around 72 people as suspects in connection with karhutla across nine regional police forces (Polda) throughout Indonesia, as part of law enforcement against land burners.

In addition, he said, the government is also ensuring that the public is not seriously affected by karhutla smoke, as the Ministry of Health, district health offices, community health centres, and related parties are working together to ensure that illnesses arising from the smoke can be significantly reduced.

“Karhutla handling is carried out through hard work and collective effort by all parties, including the prayers of the community. Various parties are also striving by praying for rain to God Almighty as part of efforts to deal with the karhutla conditions,” he said.

Jumhur noted that as part of these efforts, the Banjarbaru City Government has also held congregational prayers for rain, which is part of the community’s efforts to address the current forest and land fires and drought conditions.