Ministry tightens supervision on illegal mining in Mandalika Area

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Environment and Forestry has tightened supervision at the Mount Prabu Nature Tourism Park in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) and stepped up coordination with local authorities to combat illegal mining around Mandalika.

“We are preparing law enforcement measures and strengthening coordination with all related parties, including community leaders,” head of the Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara Regional Office of the Forestry Law Enforcement Agency, Aswin Bangun, said in a statement confirmed from Jakarta on Tuesday.

He said his team had installed warning signs at several sites and coordinated with local agencies and mining units to ensure effective cross-sector action in areas categorized as other land use.

“Although enforcement operations have been carried out in previous years, illegal mining activities have reemerged,” Bangun noted.

He stressed that collaborative and solution-oriented efforts involving all stakeholders are needed to halt illegal mining and prevent environmental and economic losses.

According to Bangun, officers found three abandoned pits inside the Mount Prabu Nature Tourism Park, with no ongoing mining activity detected.

In 2018, similar illegal mining operations were handled by the ministry’s Directorate General of Law Enforcement in cooperation with the NTB Natural Resources Conservation Agency and the NTB Regional Police. Since then, the ministry has pursued persuasive measures to raise community awareness.

Bangun added that unlicensed mining activities have also been identified in Sekotong Sub-district, West Lombok District, and enforcement operations are underway in those and other forest areas where similar cases have been found.

Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement Dwi Januanto Nugroho expressed appreciation to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for supporting efforts to uncover illegal mining in Mandalika.

“Unlicensed mining is strictly prohibited, especially when it occurs in or affects forest and conservation areas,” Nugroho said.

He added that the ministry enforces administrative, civil, and criminal measures to ensure offenders halt operations, restore the environment, and take responsibility for the damage caused.

The ministry continues to strengthen coordination with regional governments and technical agencies to ensure comprehensive handling — from enforcement and permit compliance to land rehabilitation, he said.