Enviro News Asia, Banjarbaru — The Indonesian government has intensified efforts to control forest and land fires (karhutla) in South Kalimantan following a direct instruction from President Prabowo Subianto. Minister of Environment and Head of the Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) Moh Jumhur Hidayat inspected fire management operations in Banjarbaru to ensure effective coordination, protect public health, and strengthen law enforcement against environmental offenders.
Jumhur said the immediate priority is to completely extinguish fire hotspots through a coordinated operation involving the central and regional governments, government institutions, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), the Indonesian Military (TNI), the National Police (Polri), and local communities.
The government is also prioritizing public health protection as smoke from land fires can pose serious risks to communities. KLH/BPLH is coordinating with the Ministry of Health, local community health centers, and other healthcare facilities to strengthen mitigation measures and prevent residents from suffering severe exposure to smoke.
Jumhur stressed that land clearing through burning would not be tolerated. Law enforcement agencies have already taken action against alleged perpetrators, with approximately 72 suspects identified by police across nine provincial police jurisdictions in Indonesia.
KLH/BPLH is also intensifying investigations into corporations whose concession areas have been affected by fires. Administrative sanctions, civil lawsuits, environmental compensation claims, and ecosystem restoration costs may be imposed if violations are established.
According to data from BNPB cited by the ministry, forest and land fires in South Kalimantan covered approximately 190,000 hectares in 2023. As of August 24, 2026, the affected area was estimated at around 8,000 hectares, indicating that mitigation efforts have helped keep the scale of the fires significantly below the 2023 level.
The government will continue monitoring and coordinating fire suppression operations while prioritizing public safety, health protection, law enforcement, and the preservation of Indonesia’s ecosystems. (*)
