In order to prevent forest fires in areas of Sumatra and Kalimantan, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has sealed 42 areas belonging to a corporation and another one belonging to an individual.
“The ministry’s investigators have sealed 42 company locations and one belonging to an individual in a bid to thwart the possibility of forest fires,” Rasio Ridho Sani, Director General of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, said.
The sealed lands are mostly located in West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan. Some are in Jambi, Riau, and South Sumatra. After confiscating the lands, the ministry will conduct further investigations and follow up with appropriate legal procedures.
So far, four companies have been named as suspects. “They are PT ABP (palm oil plantation) in West Kalimantan, PT AER (palm oil plantation) in West Kalimantan, PT SKM (palm oil plantation) in West Kalimantan, and PT KS in Central Kalimantan,” Rasio stated.
Their license could possibly be revoked by the government. The companies also face potential civil lawsuits for compensation, and their profits could be confiscated by the government.
Source: Tempo
Image: Liputan 6