Oil Palm Plantation Explore HSU District

By Hasan Zainuddin

Amuntai, South Kalimantan (Antaranews) - Large-scale oil palm plantations now beginning to explore the swampy land area of North Hulu Sungai (HSU).

HSU Regent Drs H Abdul Wahid here on Friday admitted the entry of the oil palm plantation business is not expected to pose much less miserable to society.

"If the presence of the oil palm companies to cause public disadvantage please report to me later will we reviewed," he said during a dialogue with residents.

The assertiveness of a number one person in HSU district following rejection of some people from Paminggir subdistrict  represented by villages heads, buffalo ranchers, and fishermen to plan of the oil palm plantations expansion. 

A number of Paminggir residents came to the assembly building to convey their aspirations and public rejection for their fear the plantation will harm their fisheries, animal husbandry, and agriculture as hereditary business and disturb swamp ecosystem.

Wahid did not mind with people rejection, but observed that the rejection set in stone can not be tolerated because HSU local government is currently working to improve the utilization of idle land in the area of Paminggir, Panggang Lakes, and Babirik to improve living standards for people in the three subdistricts.

HSU's regents justify issuing location permits through HSU regent decree number 414 of 2013 on the location license of oil palm plantations to PT Hasnur Jaya Lestari (PT HJL) in Paminggir, Panggang Lakes, and Babirik in an area of ​​10,079 hectares.

However, according to Wahid, site permit granted to PT HJL was only the entrance and many other licensing stages must be fulfilled as stipulated by Minister of Agricultre Regulation number 26 of 2007 to ensure the company does not harm people and cause environmental damage.

"If we do not provide opportunities for development efforts in the swamp vacant land in the Paminggir then when local communities can improve their standard of living," said Wahid.