Main photo - Officers preparing land certificates to be awarded to residents at Tawaeli Sub-district Office, North Palu, Central Sulawesi, Friday (October 23, 2020). ANTARA PHOTO/Mohamad Hamzah/wsj).
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Proper handling of land conflicts occurring in various regions is crucial to prevent delay and hindrance in regional development, a Home Affairs Ministry's official stated.
"Land conflict is a crucial issue that needs our attention," the ministry's secretary of the Directorate General of Regional Administration Development, Indra Gunawan, noted, as per a statement received here on Thursday.
Unresolved land conflicts potentially hinder regional development due to unfavourable situations, he noted, adding that the conflict would also impede land utilisation and reduce lands with economic productivity.
"How can we develop and enhance economic activities if the region is not conducive," the directorate general secretary remarked.
Gunawan then urged regional authorities to ensure legal clarity on land management, including while determining regional borders, to help the region conceive accurate development planning.
"It is important that regional authorities must also innovate and provide satisfactory services to residents," he stated.
He said that collaboration between the central government ministries and institutions, regional authorities, and relevant stakeholders is essential to manage land conflicts in regions.
"Moreover, the regional government must improve the competency of human resources working in the land management sector, which is necessary. Regional authorities must also pay attention to the priority of programmes while conceiving planning and budgeting for the land sector," Gunawan remarked.
Meanwhile, Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of National Land Agency Hadi Tjahjanto had earlier instructed ministry officials to synergise with relevant stakeholders to address land issues, particularly the land mafia.
"I instruct BPN (National Land Agency) to synergise with regional authorities, law enforcers, and judicial institutions to eradicate land mafia," Tjahjanto stated after his working visit to the ministry office in Semarang, Central Java, Tuesday (July 5).
He noted that synergy with all stakeholders will optimise efforts to eradicate the land mafia.
"On the contrary, if there is one problematic stakeholder, the land mafia will encroach from there. Hence, I will always promote collaboration between the four stakeholders," the minister remarked.