Science-Based Law Enforcement to Tackle Hydro-Meteorological Disasters: Govt

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said law enforcement must be strengthened to handle national hydro-meteorological disasters, emphasizing that this should be done through a science-based, multi-level approach.

“From an environmental perspective, there are three planned activities that are currently underway and have been implemented, including multi-level law enforcement. We usually call it multidose, which is based on spatial evidence and field verification supported by scientific studies,” Minister Hanif said during a workshop with the House of Representatives’ Commission XII at the Senayan Parliament Complex on Monday, January 26, 2026.

Hanif stressed that all law enforcement processes at the Ministry of Environment are grounded in scientific research, ensuring that policies remain firm and cannot be easily dismissed. He added that the Ministry has completed a rapid strategic environmental assessment, known as the Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA), for Temporary Housing (Huntara) and Permanent Housing (Huntap) sites.

The assessment has been formalized through a ministerial decree, which is expected to serve as a reference for all stakeholders. The Ministry has also conducted spatial evaluations in several disaster-prone areas, focusing on provinces with high environmental vulnerability.

“Finally, we are conducting strategic environmental assessments of spatial planning in five provinces. These include Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, West Java, and Bali,” Minister Hanif said.

He requested support and guidance from the House to ensure that these policies are effective and sustainable. “We certainly request further guidance and support in handling hydro-meteorological disasters,” he added.

House Commission XII lawmaker Sigit Karyawan Yunianto expressed support for the environmental law enforcement policy but underscored the need to strengthen the budget. “We strongly support policies related to many issues, such as environmental pollution. Environmental damage is something that cannot be easily overcome or restored,” Sigit said.

He urged that budget allocations prioritize environmental law enforcement. “In my opinion, the budget should focus more on law enforcement, especially enforcement related to the environment,” he said.

Sigit also questioned the role of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) in permit issuance, suggesting that their role has weakened in practice. “It can be assumed that the EIA now has a reduced function,” he said.

He called for a comprehensive evaluation to ensure that environmental policies truly safeguard public safety. (Gusti Panji/Lasti Martina)