POS-KUPANG.COM, KUPANG – Potential land rent losses (fixed fees) in East Nusa Tenggara Province due to mining in the new mineral and stone sector (mineral and coal) in NTT reached Rp 43.1 billion for 2010-2013. This loss is because the IUP holder has not or has not paid the land rent obligation, the IUP area data has not been updated and the company has not submitted proof of land rent deposit to the regional government or from the regional government to the central government.

This was revealed in a press conference of the Anti Mafia Mining Coalition at the On The Rock Hotel, Kupang, Wednesday (3/6/2015). Present at the press conference, Agung Budiono from the Jakarta Anti Mafia Mining Coalition, Torry Juswardono from the Pikul Foundation, NTT’s WALHI Program Manager, Melkior Nahar and representatives from NTB.

According to them, the potential for land rent revenue is calculated from permit and area data referring to PP No. 9 of 2012. For exploration mining permits (IUP), which is the area (ha) multiplied by 2 US dollars. For IUP, the operation is multiplied by 4 US dollars.

According to Torry, NTT has issued 411 IUPs. And, of that number, there are 138 IUPs that do not meet the clean and clear requirements, overlapping land, do not have NPWP and other requirements. According to him, every IUP should have a reclamation guarantee, but in NTT only 2.8 percent or 13 IUPs meet the reclamation guarantee. Another IUP, said Torry, is indicated to have violated the law. In fact, the reclamation guarantee must be fulfilled by the IUP holder.

Torry said, in the Benanain River Basin (DAS), 30 percent was full of IUPs. In fact, he said, so far Malacca has always been flooded by the Benanain watershed. And, he said, if all operational IUPs were without proper control, the disaster in Malacca would continue to occur.

Agung revealed, the fact there are indications of corruption or abuse of authority carried out by the company and the government. He hoped that this condition would soon be stopped by all parties involved in it.

Melkior from Walhi said, in Manggarai, mining conducted by PT Sumber Jaya Asia, obtained permits in protected forests and conducted open mining. In the Forestry Law No. 41 of 1999 that mining in protected forests is required for a lease-to-use area permit. In fact, said Melkior, the lease-to-use permit for the area was denied. **