Talau River in Belu Polluted Due to Suspected AMP Mol Batu Project, Police Investigate

The Talau River in Belu, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), has gone viral due to pollution. The contamination is suspected to be caused by sirtu excavation activities for the AMP Mol Batu project in Derok Faturene Village, West Tasifeto District, Belu.

An Instagram post from @belu_update reported that residents have claimed the Talau River’s water has turned murky every morning until afternoon for over a month. This has disrupted bathing and washing activities due to the discoloured water.

‘The pollution is suspected to be caused by excavator activities for sirtu excavation in the AMP Mol Batu project in Derok Faturene Village, West Tasifeto District, Belu. The public is now awaiting serious attention from relevant parties to check the situation on-site,’ according to the Instagram post.

Belu Police Residency Criminal Investigation Unit Chief (Kasatreskrim), AKP Rachmat Hidayat, said the river pollution allegations are being monitored. The monitoring is being carried out by the Special Criminal Investigation Unit (Tipidter) of Belu Police Residency.

‘We have already monitored it. The Tipidter Unit of Belu Police Residency is currently checking the site,’ Rachmat said.

Tasifeto Timur Police Station Chief, Ipda Yusran, explained his officers are still verifying the site. He stated the excavator is located in West Tasifeto District, but the pollution may affect residents of Tialai Village in East Tasifeto District.

‘The AMP project operating there is in West Tasifeto District, but it affects the residents of Tialai Village in East Tasifeto District,’ Yusran explained.

Tasifeto Barat Police Station Chief, Ipda Maxi Disyon Imanuel Ninu, echoed the same sentiment. However, he noted the river flows into East Tasifeto District. ‘I’ve requested the Intelligence Unit to check first,’ Maxi said.