After their permits were revoked on Tuesday, the companies are banned from operating until the police have completed their criminal investigations.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Environment and Forestry Ministry has revoked the permits of three plantation companies proven guilty of setting fires to land and forest areas.
The three errant companies are PT Tempirai Palm Resources and PT Waringin Agro Jaya in South Sumatra province and PT Langgam Inti Hibrindo in Riau, Secretary General of the Environment and Forestry Ministry Bambang Hendroyono noted here on Tuesday.
In addition, the ministry has also revoked the permit of forest concession holder PT Hutani Sola Lestari in Riau province for being involved in forest fires.
"(The decision) to revoke the operational permits was reached during an overnight meeting to discuss the imposition of sanctions. The meeting was led by the environment and forestry minister," Hendroyono affirmed.
After their permits were revoked on Tuesday, the companies are banned from operating until the police have completed their criminal investigations, he remarked.
He claimed that the companies must return their allocated land areas, which caught fire, to the state within two months.
When questioned about the plantation areas that caught fire, he explained that the ministry will soon make an inventory of the land areas.
"We will restore the land as part of the governments responsibilities. Hopefully, next year, the land will not catch fire," he added.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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