Handling of Karhutla: Trillions in Budget Allocated, Corporations Investigated

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The government is continuing its efforts to extinguish forest and land fires (karhutla) occurring in several regions across Indonesia.

The smoke generated from these fires has now prompted protests from neighboring countries.

Domestically, residents affected by the karhutla are forced to live under a haze that restricts breathing.

The number of respiratory infections (ISPA) reported in Indonesia has now exceeded 300,000.

In response to this situation, the central government is actively providing funding and investigating corporations that intentionally burn forests and land.

Allocating Rp 1.2 trillion

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Sugiono stated that the central government has sent aid worth Rp 1.2 trillion to regional governments (pemda) for handling the karhutla.

This assistance is the second to be provided to regional governments, particularly to the six provinces experiencing the worst karhutla situations.

"As of today, the second stage of assistance from the central government has been transferred. The total assistance from the central government stands at Rp 1.235 trillion, as emphasized by the President (Prabowo Subianto)," said Sugiono at a press conference at the Menko PMK office in Jakarta on Thursday (22/10/2026).

Sugiono explained that the karhutla assistance to regional governments is aimed at protecting communities affected by the fires.

This protection measures include health services, the distribution of masks, portable oxygen, and recovery facilities.

"This includes oxygen houses, as well as addressing communities affected by acute respiratory infections," he added.

Additionally, the central government aid should also prioritize efforts for extinguishing and managing the forest and land fires.

"This involves adding resources such as personal protective equipment, water pumps, water tanks, firefighting hoses, water injection tools for peatland, and the construction of boreholes, along with operational costs and mobilization of personnel for karhutla extinguishing efforts," he continued.

Prabowo Sends Presidential Aid

Furthermore, Prabowo has also allocated Presidential Assistance (Banpres) amounting to Rp 240 billion for dealing with karhutla in West Kalimantan (Kalbar).

"According to Minister of Forestry, the Banpres of Rp 240 billion is support from the President for handling karhutla in West Kalimantan," said Head of Public Relations and International Cooperation of the Ministry of Forestry, Ristianto Pribadi, to Kompas.com on Friday (23/10/2026).