Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — The Government of Indonesia, through the Ministry of Environment and Environmental Control Agency, has filed civil lawsuits against six companies accused of causing extensive environmental damage in North Sumatra, seeking compensation totaling Rp4.84 trillion.
The lawsuits were officially registered on January 15, 2026, and target environmental destruction across North Tapanuli, Central Tapanuli, and South Tapanuli regencies, with particular focus on ecosystem degradation in the Garoga and Batang Toru river basins.
To ensure procedural effectiveness, the ministry filed the cases simultaneously at the Medan District Court, Central Jakarta District Court, and South Jakarta District Court. The move marks one of the largest civil environmental lawsuits ever initiated by the Indonesian government.
Minister of Environment and Head of the agency Hanif Faisol Nurofiq stated that the government would not tolerate environmental destruction that harms communities and threatens ecological security.
He said the environmental damage had resulted in the loss of ecosystem functions, disrupted livelihoods, and increased the risk of floods and landslides for communities living along the affected watersheds. The lawsuits, he added, are based on verified field data and expert assessments and reflect the strict application of the “polluter pays” principle.
According to the ministry, the six companies—PT NSHE, PT AR, PT TPL, PT PN, PT MST, and PT TBS—are alleged to have damaged a combined area of 2,516.39 hectares. The total claim includes environmental losses amounting to Rp4.65 trillion and ecosystem restoration costs of Rp178.48 billion to ensure long-term recovery of affected landscapes.
Deputy for Environmental Law Enforcement Rizal Irawan explained that the lawsuits are grounded in Indonesia’s Environmental Protection and Management Law, which mandates state responsibility, precautionary principles, and absolute liability for polluters. He emphasized that the legal action aims not only to recover financial losses but also to reduce disaster risks linked to degraded watershed functions.
The ministry affirmed its commitment to closely monitor the legal process and ensure that any compensation awarded by the court is fully allocated to environmental restoration and ecological justice for affected communities. (*)
