Environment Ministry Fines Polluters IDR 1.5T for Disaster-Linked Damage

RRI.CO.ID, Martapura - The Indonesian Ministry of Environment has intensified its crackdown on environmental negligence, securing IDR 1.5 trillion (USD 87.37 million) in fines from companies whose violations are linked to regional disasters. This aggressive recovery effort targets 1,369 companies across 14 provinces.

During a visit to Martapura, Banjar Regency, on Monday, April 20, 2026, Environment Minister, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, revealed that the ministry is currently scrutinizing 185 mining operations in South Kalimantan alone. This audit includes both legal and illegal entities, with officials cross-referencing field activities against previously issued environmental permits to identify discrepancies that may have triggered recent flooding.

Minister Hanif noted that while many cases have already progressed to civil court through environmental lawsuits, several businesses have chosen to settle their obligations voluntarily.

"Some have fulfilled their mandate by making payments, so that as of today, the Ministry of Environment has deposited IDR 1.5 trillion into the state treasury from various similar activities," said the Minister, as quoted by Antara.

To ensure long-term compliance, the ministry is deploying teams of experts to conduct rigorous field evaluations. These inspections are being prioritized during the rainy season, a period when poor environmental governance poses the highest risk of catastrophic damage.

Regarding illegal mining, Minister Hanif confirmed that findings would be shared with local administrations and relevant ministries to ensure a coordinated legal response. The Ministry’s Law Enforcement (Gakkum) team is specifically investigating the direct correlation between mining activities and recent floods that have devastated local villages.

Minister Hanif emphasized that the strategy is not merely punitive but restorative. "The law enforcement steps are focused on the collection of fines and environmental restoration obligations from violating companies. This is done to mitigate the impact of damage that contributes to disasters such as flooding in several regions," he added.

By integrating financial penalties with mandatory restoration projects, the Ministry of Environment aims to dismantle the culture of non-compliance and ensure that the private sector plays an active role in disaster risk reduction. ***