JAKARTA – EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION BUREAU. Deputy Governor of Central Kalimantan H. Edy Pratowo attended a Hearing Meeting with the Working Committee (Panja) of Illegal Mining of Commission VII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), located at Nusantara II Building of DPR RI, Monday (11/4/2022).

Deputy Governor Edy Pratowo was present along with a number of other regional heads, namely the Governor of Bangka Belitung, South Sumatra, West Java, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, North Kalimantan and Southeast Sulawesi, as well as the Director General of Mineral and Coal at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

This Hearing Meeting was held to collect information and regional input especially from the invited governors regarding the handling of illegal mining, to discuss government policy strategies in handling illegal mining activities, the socio-economic and environmental impacts of illegal mining activities, as well as the obstacles in handling them.

On this occasion, Deputy Governor Edy Pratowo provided input for the Panja regarding the importance of the Governor’s authority as the representative of the central government in terms of supervision and guidance regarding mineral and coal mining, especially the authority as stated in Law Number 3 of 2020 regarding rock mining permits (excavation c) and proposing locations/blocks for community to have the People’s Mining Area (WPR).

RDP noted several important things, including illegal mining activities that have caused damage to the environment and road infrastructure, including the loss of potential state revenue. By regulation, the act of mining without a permit is subject to a fairly serious criminal offense article, but the application of sanctions is not optimal. Local governments need to be given broader authority and be involved in supervision considering the limited number of human resources in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. The provincial government requested that they be given the authority to supervise and develop as representatives of the central government in the regions. The provincial government proposes that the authority to grant rock mining permits (excavation c) and people’s mining permits immediately be delegated to the regions.

After participating in the RDP, Deputy Governor Edy Pratowo conveyed the importance of the RDP with the Panja, “I consider this is important to accommodate finding the best solution for mining problems in Central Kalimantan so that they can be resolved properly,” he said.

The RDP was led by Eddy Suparno as the Chair of Panja from the PAN faction and Nanik Heri Murti as the Secretary of the Meeting and was attended by 19 of the 26 members of the Working Committee of Illegal Mining of Commission VII of the Indonesian House of Representatives. (dew/ist/transl.feb)