West Kalimantan Deputy Governor urges corporations to take active role in tackling forest fires
Pontianak (ANTARA) - West Kalimantan Deputy Governor Krisantus Kurniawan is pushing for law enforcement and the active involvement of companies holding land-use rights (HGU) in addressing forest and land fires.
“To this day, West Kalimantan remains one of the regions with a considerable extent of burned area. For that reason, I believe active corporate involvement and law enforcement need to be carried out,” Krisantus said at a Strategic Coordination Meeting with leaders of HGU-holding companies from across Indonesia, organised by the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs in Jakarta on Monday.
At the meeting, Krisantus said the area affected by fires in West Kalimantan had exceeded 38,000 hectares, with around 76 per cent of it successfully extinguished.
However, he noted that approximately 24 per cent of the affected areas have yet to be fully dealt with, requiring strengthened cooperation from all parties.
He requested that law enforcement agencies, from the police and prosecutors to intelligence units, carry out comprehensive surveillance and investigation into hotspots that have developed into major fires.
According to him, the pattern of fires emerging in a number of locations and shifting from place to place warrants serious attention to uncover the possibility of deliberate intent.
“Those who deliberately set fires must be investigated immediately and face law enforcement in accordance with the prevailing regulations,” he asserted.
Krisantus also stressed that handling forest and land fires cannot be borne by the government, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), regional disaster agencies (BPBD), the military, the police, volunteers and communities alone.
He asked companies operating in West Kalimantan, particularly HGU holders, to take a more active role in preventing and tackling fires within their operational areas.
“Corporations must now play an active role in helping the government tackle the fires. Help the government, help BNPB, help BPBD, help the TNI and the police,” he said.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Jamhari Chaniago said all parties must remain vigilant because, according to government estimates, the peak El Nino period and the threat of fires have not yet fully passed.
He emphasised that companies cannot escape responsibility if fires occur on land under their control or holding certain rights.
According to Jamhari, the government already has sufficiently comprehensive regulations concerning the prevention, handling and law enforcement of forest and land fires, so all parties are expected to comply with the applicable provisions.
He said the government will follow up on data and information regarding companies suspected of requiring further examination based on conditions and facts found in the field.