Jakarta, Aug. 25 -- The Forestry Ministry has imposed sanctions on six Forest Utilization Business Permit (PBPH) holders following fires covering 1,511.55 hectares across their concession areas in Kalimantan.

The ministry's Director of Forestry Supervision, Imposition of Administrative Sanctions, and Civil Law, Ardi Risman, said administrative sanctions were imposed on four companies in West Kalimantan: PT WEL, PT FI, PT MPK, and PT WSP.

Sanctions were also imposed on PT NES in Central Kalimantan and PT PSR in East Kalimantan, he noted in a statement on Tuesday.

Risman explained that the sanctions followed repeated forest and land fires in the companies' working areas. As part of the penalties, the companies are required to strengthen ...