January 16, 2026 | 06:39 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Government, through the Ministry of Environment and the Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH), has taken extraordinary legal action by filing a civil lawsuit against six companies accused of causing extensive environmental damage in North Sumatra Province.
The lawsuit addresses damage across three regions, North Tapanuli, Central Tapanuli, and South Tapanuli, with a strategic focus on restoring vital ecosystems within the Garoga and Batang Toru River Basin areas.
As a sign of seriousness, the KLH/BPLH simultaneously filed the lawsuit through the Medan District Court for two companies, the Central Jakarta District Court for one company, and the South Jakarta District Court for three other companies.
"The environmental damage that has occurred has had a significant impact on the community; lost environmental functions, disrupted livelihoods, and a sense of insecurity due to ecological disaster threats. The state cannot remain silent when the environment is damaged, and the people must bear the consequences alone," said Minister of Environment, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, in a written statement on Friday, January 16, 2026.
Minister Hanif emphasized that the litigation is built upon field evidence and expert analysis. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s adherence to the "polluter pays" principle, asserting that any corporation profiting from the destruction of an ecosystem must be held fully accountable for its restoration.
"This is a strong message that environmental law enforcement under the KLH/BPLH will not compromise to ensure every citizen's constitutional right to a good and healthy environment," Hanif added.
Rizal Irawan, the Deputy for Environmental Law Enforcement at KLH/BPLH, noted that the lawsuit is grounded in Article 2 of Law Number 32 of 2009 regarding Environmental Protection and Management (UU PPLH). This statute underscores the principles of state responsibility, sustainability, and precautionary measures.
Rizal explained that the government’s move extends beyond seeking material compensation; it is a critical effort to mitigate the immediate risks of floods and landslides that threaten residents along the Batang Toru and Garoga basins following the collapse of the land's environmental carrying capacity.
The six corporations targeted in this legal action are PT NSHE, PT AR, PT TPL, PT PN, PT MST, and PT TBS. In-depth technical studies and field monitoring conducted by the ministry indicate that the combined activities of these firms have resulted in environmental damage spanning 2,516.39 hectares. The scale of the destruction has led the KLH/BPLH to seek a total claim of Rp4,843,232,560,026.
This multi-trillion rupiah claim is meticulously broken down into Rp4,657,378,770,276 for direct environmental losses and Rp178,481,212,250 dedicated specifically to ecosystem restoration costs. The primary objective is to ensure that the damaged terrain is rehabilitated to a functional state for the benefit of the local community.
Rizal Irawan reiterated that through this civil lawsuit, the government is demanding absolute accountability for every inch of damage. This legal campaign also serves as a part of the KLH/BPLH’s long-term strategy to bolster environmental governance and enforce corporate compliance to prevent future ecological catastrophes.
"KLH/BPLH is committed to overseeing this legal process transparently and accountably, ensuring that every rupiah of the claim value is entirely allocated for environmental restoration and ecological justice for the community," Rizal concluded.
Read: BNPB: Sumatra Disaster Death Toll Reaches 1,190
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