Bandung Fines Padel Facility Rp100 Million, Orders 1,000 Trees Planted for Illegal Logging

The owner of the SixNine padel court in Bandung, West Java, has been handed a sanction of IDR100 million (approximately $6,300 USD) and ordered to plant 1,000 trees. This penalty is in response to the illegal felling of 10 trees to facilitate the installation of a videotron. According to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLH), environmental supervisors from the ministry, along with the Bandung City government, summoned, conducted field verification, and clarified the situation with the padel court business owner regarding the tree felling in front of the videotron. Minister of Environment and Forestry Jumhur Hidayat stated that the padel business owner admitted to illegally cutting down the 10 trees for the videotron installation. The KLH also mandated that the business owner replant protective trees, measuring 5 meters in height, at the original felling site. "The padel business owner has admitted to felling 10 trees in front of the videotron, and has paid a fine of IDR100 million and has agreed to plant 1,000 trees as well as replant protective tree species measuring 5 meters at the felling location," Jumhur said. The videotron in question was also sealed by the Bandung City government, with the KLH in attendance. Furthermore, the KLH uncovered other violations by the padel company, including the lack of a Wastewater Treatment Installation (IPAL) and the obstruction of a drainage channel behind the building. "The Bandung City government sealed the videotron, witnessed by the KLH, because it lacked advertising permits. In addition to the aforementioned violations, the KLH's PPLH also found other violations. The business permit holder (PT FPI) is not compliant with laws and regulations in the field of environmental protection and management," Jumhur stated. "These violations include the absence of a Wastewater Treatment Installation (IPAL), an inability to explain the source of raw water and water balance, and the obstruction of a public drainage channel at the back of the building. Administrative sanctions of government compulsion will be imposed by the KLH for these violations," he added.