Sidoarjo Regency Forms Task Force to Accelerate Lapindo Mud Compensation

The Sidoarjo Regency Government is committed to resolving the compensation issues arising from the social impact of the Lapindo mud disaster, a problem that has been ongoing for approximately 20 years. As a concrete step, the local government has officially formed the Task Force for the Accelerated Settlement of Lapindo Mud Victims and Compensation.

This was announced by the Regent of Sidoarjo, Subandi, following an audience with relevant parties, representatives from the Sidoarjo Mud Flow Control Centre (PPLS), and representatives of the Lapindo mud victims on Tuesday (2/6). “The issues related to Lapindo Mud have not been resolved since the era of Mr Win until now, for about 20 years. To ensure a genuine commitment to resolution, we are forming this Acceleration Task Force for Lapindo Mud Compensation,” said Subandi.

The Regent emphasised that the task force has been designed to be lean to ensure that coordination and communication regarding the affected objects can proceed more effectively and efficiently. The primary focus of the task force in the near future is to conduct a total validation of the land legality of the victims before the matter is brought to the central government in Jakarta. This step is being taken to anticipate any overlapping land titles or unilateral claims.

“What we must emphasise, especially regarding legality, is that we must prepare it thoroughly. We must not reach the point where, after our audience in Jakarta, there is still overlapping land or land that has been paid for but is being reported as unpaid. This cannot happen, which is why we will verify everything thoroughly,” Sub

andi asserted.

Furthermore, the Regency Government will coordinate with relevant parties regarding the status of land currently held as collateral for Home Ownership Loans (KPR) to seek clarity on spatial planning (site plans) and detailed data on affected residents. The structure of the Task Force will be led directly by the Regional Secretary (Sekda) of Sidoarjo as the Chairperson. Members will involve various strategic elements, including Assistants 1 and 2, the Legal Department, Sub-district Heads (Camat), PPLS officials, and representatives from the Lapindo mud victims themselves.

Addressing concerns regarding potential overlapping functions between this new Task Force and the PPLS, the Regent ensured that both parties are integrated into the same working group. “PPLS is included within the Task Force. Our goal is to ensure there is no overlap in data collection. Everyone is included so that our data is truly detailed,” explained the Regent.

Regarding compensation demands also voiced by business owners in the affected areas, the Regent stated that the government will apply a priority scale, prioritising individual residents and applicants first. “We are striving to resolve the issues for residents first. Once that is completed, we will move to others. If even one land acquisition remains unresolved, then addressing businesses would result in losses for everyone. The priority is that assets with unresolved legal status must be settled,” added Subandi.

As a measure of information transparency, the Sidoarjo Regency Government plans to establish complaint posts in every affected sub-district. These posts will serve as service centres for Lapindo mud victims whose compensation rights have not yet been fully fulfilled.

It has been exactly 20 years since the first eruption of hot mud disrupted the peace of residents in Porong, Sidoarjo, on 29 May 2006. The Sidoarjo Mud Flow Control Centre (PPLS) is currently focusing on coordinating with the Task Force to perform validation and synchronisation of compensation payment data. It is recorded that there is an outstanding debt of Rp1.5 trillion for 200 files of residents and entrepreneurs that remain unpaid. Two decades since 29 May 2006, the Lapindo mud eruption remains active, having submerged residential areas and damaged various infrastructure. The Government, through the Ministry of Environment, will update the environmental assessment documents for the handling of the Lapindo mud in Sidoarjo Regency, East Java.