Banyuwangi DLH Responds to Land Damage Caused by Gold Mining

The Banyuwangi Regency Government has responded to illegal gold mining activities in Roworejo, Banyuwangi, East Java, calling for an immediate halt to the operations. Pelaksana Tugas Kepala Dinas Lingkungan Hidup (DLH) Kabupaten Banyuwangi, Bayu Hadiyanto, stated that the illegal gold mines are not only unlicensed but also fail to meet environmental quality standards.

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We hope that illegal mining activities can be stopped and controlled.

"We hope that illegal mining activities can be stopped and controlled," Bayu said via a short message. He confirmed that the DLH would forward the information regarding the illegal mines to the East Java Provincial Environmental Law Enforcement (Gakkum Lingkungan Hidup Provinsi Jawa Timur) for further action. DLH Banyuwangi, in collaboration with Gakkum, will conduct field monitoring and evaluation.

Bayu also cited relevant regulations, including Law No. 3 of 2020 and Presidential Regulation No. 55 of 2022, emphasizing that authority for gold mining permits lies with the central government. Previously, reports indicated that hundreds of hectares of farmers' crops in the social forestry area of Dusun Pancer were threatened by illegal gold mining. The "shoot and dissolve" mining method has caused mud sedimentation in rivers, leading to floods that damage local food crop fields during the rainy season.

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We will monitor and evaluate together in the field.

Despite concerns, local residents like Edi Lasmono, a farmer from Sumberagung Village, feel unable to prohibit the mining activities, as the miners claim it is their source of livelihood. Edi noted three to four locations where this method is employed, involving injecting water into the soil, filtering it with carpet, and discharging the muddy residue into rivers, which then flows downstream to agricultural lands, causing crop damage.

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The miners also seek a livelihood.