Enviro News Asia, Padang — The Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) has sealed several mining sites in West Sumatra and installed public monitoring notices as part of firm enforcement measures taken after recent floods. The action aims to temporarily halt operations that may worsen hydrological conditions, ensure compliance with environmental obligations, and safeguard affected communities.
The ministry carried out the sealing after inspection teams from KLH/BPLH, accompanied by the Deputy for Environmental Law Enforcement, completed on-site verifications. The teams identified abandoned mine openings that lacked reclamation, showed no runoff water monitoring, and posed landslide risks. These conditions allegedly intensified erosion and mudflows that inundated downstream settlements.
Environment Minister and Head of BPLH Hanif Faisol Nurofiq stated that environmental compliance directly relates to public safety and regional carrying capacity. He emphasized that the government will strictly enforce regulations to protect communities.
Field findings also revealed that several cleared areas did not possess valid environmental approval documents. Inspectors requested formal explanations from the companies involved, examined Environmental Impact Assessment (AMDAL) or environmental permit documents, and evaluated erosion control, drainage systems, and post-mining reclamation practices. The ministry classified the sealing as temporary and will lift it only after companies demonstrate full compliance and submit adequate corrective plans.
KLH/BPLH confirmed that the operation forms part of a transparent and accountable environmental law enforcement process. In addition to sealing, the ministry ordered the installation of public oversight signage to inform residents of the sites’ status and the government’s preventive measures against prolonged impacts.
Minister Hanif noted that unreclaimed mine openings without runoff monitoring carry a high risk of triggering floods and landslides. He said the government will ensure business operators assume responsibility for their environmental impacts.
The ongoing review will include technical assessments of former mine management, monitoring of water flow quality and quantity, and verification of reclamation plans. If inspectors identify administrative or technical violations, KLH/BPLH will proceed with sanctions under prevailing laws, including administrative penalties and recommendations for further legal action.
The ministry also urged local governments, law enforcement agencies, and communities to coordinate recovery efforts, remove debris obstructing river flows, and reorganize vulnerable areas. KLH/BPLH stressed the need for sustained oversight to prevent mining activities from undermining protected areas, water governance, and public safety.
The ministry will publish inspection results and follow-up actions periodically to ensure transparency and accountability. Stakeholders are expected to support verification and restoration efforts to reduce the risk of recurring disasters and strengthen environmental resilience in West Sumatra. (*)
