Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono called for environmentally responsible mineral management in transmigration areas to support sustainable development and equitable economic growth."Economic development must not come at the expense of the environment. Exploration and extraction of mineral resources in our land should not be carried out recklessly," said Yudhoyono, popularly known as AHY, during a transmigration-themed event in Jakarta on Sunday.
AHY emphasized that economic growth and environmental sustainability must go hand in hand.
He stressed that mineral exploration and extraction activities must comply with prevailing laws and regulations.
The government, he added, would ensure that natural resource management is carried out fairly and responsibly to maintain environmental sustainability for surrounding communities.
"A damaged environment can trigger natural disasters, and local communities are usually the most affected," he said.
AHY said the government remains committed to promoting equitable development while maintaining ecological balance to prevent future environmental problems.
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He also highlighted the importance of green development to support economic growth while minimizing environmental impacts.
According to AHY, green infrastructure development is also important for addressing climate change and global warming.
He said the central and regional governments would continue working together to balance economic development and environmental preservation.
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Earlier, Transmigration Minister M. Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara said the ministry was studying the potential use of transmigration land management rights for coal and rare earth mining to create new economic growth centers.
"We have also identified rare earth potential in Mamuju, West Sulawesi," he said at a press conference in Jakarta on May 4.