BOGOR – West Java Governor, Dedi Mulyadi, expressed his concern over the numerous environmental violations in the Puncak forest area, Bogor. Changes in land use that do not align with their intended purpose are suspected to be one of the main factors contributing to the floods and landslides on March 2nd.
He highlighted the land use and building usage that exceeded the established limits, as well as errors in determining heights that did not comply with regulations.
“Most of these violations are caused by excessive land use and development and errors in elevation regulation.” “The impact is very detrimental to the environment,” said Dedi Mulyadi.
As a firm step, the West Java Provincial Government will soon demolish all buildings that violate regulations.
“Starting today, the areas that have been built in violation of regulations will be demolished.” We will restore this area to a green tea plantation that is beneficial for the community,” he added.
The local government is committed to preserving the environment and ensuring that forest areas and agricultural land are used sustainably. Governor Dedi Mulyadi also emphasized the importance of community participation in maintaining the ecosystem and preventing further violations.
The Regent of Bogor, Rudy Susmanto, emphasized that his team will soon take corrective measures to address the impact of the landscape changes that have occurred. According to him, environmental balance must be maintained to prevent wider impacts, including downstream areas like Jakarta.
“We will coordinate with the central and provincial governments to find the best solution.” The greening program will be promptly encouraged, and enforcement against buildings in restricted areas will be carried out according to regulations. “The safety of the community is our priority,” said Rudy Susmanto.
The Bogor Regency Government, along with law enforcement officials, will restore this area to its original function as a water catchment area. It is hoped that with this concrete step, disasters caused by uncontrolled land conversion can be prevented in the future.
The Minister of the Environment, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, explained that since 2010, the area covering 15,000 hectares has primarily functioned as a protected forest, national park, and water catchment area.
However, in 2022, land use conversion occurred massively, with around 8,000 hectares changing into agricultural areas. In addition, the settlement area, which initially covered only 500 hectares, has now expanded to 1,500 hectares.
In fact, some river bodies have been repurposed for the construction of resorts and tourist spots that should be protected.
“We see a very concerning change in spatial planning.” The water catchment areas should continue to function as they should. “If left unchecked, similar disasters will continue to occur,” said Hanif Faisol Nurofiq.
As an initial step, in the near future, the government will install signs reading “Under Supervision” in several affected areas and seal off 33 points that violate regulations.
Scientific studies will continue to determine the next law enforcement steps, including the possibility of demolishing buildings that do not have permits.
Leave a Reply