REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PALEMBANG -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) gave an instruction to Regent of Ogan Komering Ilir to revoke PT Tempirai Palm Resources's license. PT Tempirai was a oil palm company whose lands were burned and triggered smog in Pulau Geringgang Village, Pedamaran Timur, Ogan Komering Ilir.
"I've heard the explanation from the Regent of Ogan Komering Ilir. I had repeatedly warned that the company has responsible for maintaining the land, do not get it burned,'' said President Jokowi in his working visit to Palembang, accompanied by TNI Chief General Billy Nurmantyo, National Police Chief General Police Badrodin Haiti, Governor of South Sumatera Alex Noerdin and Regent of Ogan Komering Ilir Iskandar.
According to the President, the oil palm lands has became the responsibility of the company. Moreover, the lands burned were not a few.
"The government should provide sanctions. The criminal police will later investigate the case and then PT Tempirai's license can be revokes," he added.
In a sudden working visit to the location of fires in South Sumatra, Jokowi visited Ogan Komering Ilir, because that area has highest number of hotspots.
"Of six provinces that have forest fires, South Sumatra is the highest. There are still about 1,000 hectares of lands that were burned and the impact of the fires are very large," he said.
He warned all parties to response to the forest fires and make any anticipation from last January to April. He hoped that the efforts will cause no more fires in the future.
Meanwhile, Governor of South Sumatera, Alex Noerdin, said the local government both provincial and district have worked hard to cope with fires. However, the limitations of equipment to extinguish the fire, cause the fire was still going on. "
According to him, the number of forest fires in this area has decreased compared to 2014. It was because the drought was predicted to happen until November.
"We will continue to do prevention efforts so that the fire does not spread," he said.
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