Vice Chairman of Commission IV of the House of Representatives, Alex Indra Lukman, stressed that life safety must be the top priority for activities in the Mount Merapi area. The statement was made following concerns over widespread illegal hiking and various violations in the disaster-prone zone during a working visit to the Mount Merapi National Park Office (TNGM) on Friday (10/7).
Alex urged the Directorate General of Law Enforcement (Gakkum) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to synergize with law enforcement agencies in taking firm action against all forms of violations, including unauthorized volcanic material mining. However, he also reminded that law enforcement must be accompanied by the provision of economic options for local communities so they have safe alternative livelihoods.
Head of the TNGM Office, Tutut Heri Wibowo, revealed that his team is currently facing quite complex management challenges. In addition to escalating human-wildlife conflicts, park managers are also overwhelmed by a surge in illegal hiking and unlicensed commercial tourism activities. Budget and human resource constraints are the main obstacles in maintaining area security on weekends.
This situation is increasingly urgent given Mount Merapi's status remains at Level III (Alert). Based on mapping by the Geological Agency, potential threats of pyroclastic flows and lava falls endanger river sectors around Merapi's slopes within a radius of up to 7 kilometers. Besides eruption hazards, TNGM authorities also highlighted that environmental utilization potential is not yet optimal due to the absence of clear downstream regulations.
