Vice President Orders Illegal Mine Closure

The Vice President said the Perpres on former mine rehabilitation would regulate all regions in Indonesia. Environmental damage due to illegal mining had also been found in Bogor, Bengkulu and North Sulawesi.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

People unroll a sheet of tarpaulin for erecting a temporary shelter on 26 Jan. 2020 in Hegarmanah kampong of Kiara Pandak village, Sukajaya district, Bogor. The government has moved 84 families to temporary shelters in preparation for relocating them permanently from the kampong, which stands in a disaster hazard zone.

RANGKASBITUNG, KOMPAS – Post-disaster mapping has found that environmental damage was behind the flash floods that hit Bogor, West Java, and Lebak, Banten, in early January. Illegal gold mining and deforestation were deemed as environmental destructions that led to disaster. The government said that it would maintain its commitment to closing illegal mines.

“In the future, [illegal] mining must be ceased. We’ve planned post closure steps to be carried out. There is a plan to issue a presidential regulation [Perpres] to address post-mining management,” Vice President Ma’ruf Amin said after a tree-planting event at the Rangkasbitung State Building in Lebak on Thursday (30/1/2020).

On Thursday, Ma’ruf and several ministers visited evacuees at a temporary shelter at the battle training depot of III Siliwangi regiment military area in Sajira district, Lebak regency.

The Vice President said the Perpres on former mine rehabilitation would regulate not only Lebak but also other regions in Indonesia. Environmental damage due to illegal mining had also been found in Bogor, Bengkulu and North Sulawesi.

In the future, [illegal] mining must be ceased.

Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said her ministry’s research had found 50 landslide-prone sites in Lebak and another 65 in Bogor. Landslides occur due to illegal gold mining at Mt. Halimun Salak National Park, parts of which are in Lebak and Bogor.

The Vice President continued that the central government would be ready to help with relocating locals. However, relocation will only be possible after the regional government files a comprehensive report on residents eligible for relocation.

The government will provide Rp 50 million (US$3,677.71) for locals whose homes are severely damaged, Rp 25 million for those whose homes are moderately damaged and Rp 10 million for those whose homes are lightly damaged. Survivors are eligible for a monthly aid of Rp 500,000.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

A man receives a medical checkup from volunteer health workers on 26 Jan. 2020.at Kiara Pandak in Sukajaya district, Bogor. The village area only became accessible to vehicles three days ago due to an imminent risk of disaster.

Begins in Pasir Madang

Geospatial Information Agency (BIG) climate change and disaster mapping division head Ferari Pinem said 420 hectares out of 1,700 hectares in Pasir Madang village, Sukajaya, Bogor regency, had been affected by landslides. “Almost a quarter of the village just disappeared. This is the source of the flash flood in Bogor and Lebak,” Ferari said.

Pasir Madang village is located on the hills that separate two tributaries, with Bogor to the west and Lebak regency, Banten, to the east. “If another landslide hits the region, flash floods will reoccur in Bogor and Lebak,” Ferari said.

According to him, the ecological function of the upstream region’s forest area must have its functions restored. Spatial reorganizing is necessary. “We recommend that Pasir Madang village not be turned into a residential area,” he said.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesperson Agus Wibowo said sloping and landslide-affected areas would be rehabilitated through planting vetivers. In line with BIG’s calculation, 12,000 vetivers will be planted per hectare. “Relocating residential areas is being discussed,” he said.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

People help each other cross a makeshift bridge suspended over the rapidly flowing Ciberang River on 26 Jan. 2020 in Banjarsari village, Lebakgedong, Lebak, Banten. The Ciberang River overflowed on 1 Jan. 2020, causing a flash flood that destroyed the bridge connecting the kampongs of Ciladaeun and Muara, and a landslide that buried a nearby area that remains inaccessible to vehicles.

Domino effect

The flash floods in Bogor and Lebak have caused not only damaged buildings but the loss of lives. Locals’ social-economic lives will also be affected for a long time.

The disaster, for instance, destroyed transportation infrastructure in Lebak. Some 27 permanent and suspension bridges, as well as a 40-meter stretch of road, collapsed. Rice fields and other productive lands were covered in a thick layer of mud.

Lebak regional secretary Dede Jaelani said Lebak would recover over the next four months. During this period, infrastructure repair will be the focus. Lebak administration has yet to obtain the final estimation on the financial value of losses due to the disasters in Lebak at the start of the year.

(NTA/AIK/JOG/GIO/VAN)