PANTAI LABU — The ongoing controversy surrounding several poultry farming operations in Pantai Labu Sub-district, Deli Serdang Regency, has entered a critical phase, shifting focus toward land tenure status and spatial zoning compliance.
Multiple poultry farms in the area have reportedly been operational for years. However, local residents are now actively questioning whether these commercial operations are situated on properly designated land, possess valid environmental and spatial permits, and fulfill regional tax obligations.
A local resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that portions of the land currently used for poultry farming were historically recognized by the community as protected forest areas previously utilized for agricultural activity.
“As far as I know, much of this land used to be protected forest area. Now, several chicken farms stand on that very land, raising major questions among residents,” the source stated.
While allegations regarding the precise status of the forest area remain unverified and require formal cross-checking by authorized agencies, residents are urging local government officials not to limit their review to administrative paperwork. Instead, they demand comprehensive, direct field inspections.
Community members emphasize that field audits must scrutinize land tenure legality, regional spatial layout compliance (RTRW), land use permits, environmental impact documentation, and the actual physical condition of the farm structures.
This public concern previously caught the attention of Deli Serdang Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) member Indra Silaban, SH, from the PDI Perjuangan Fraction. Silaban pledged to summon relevant authorities to conduct a thorough inventory of all poultry farming operations across Pantai Labu.
“We will call upon all related parties to map out and register every single farm in Pantai Labu to determine which ones hold valid permits and which do not,” Indra asserted.
The council member added that the mapping process must extend beyond merely counting farm buildings to verifying business legality, location coordinates, land usage compliance, and adherence to existing regional regulations.
Addressing potential regional revenue impacts, Head of the Regional Revenue Agency (Bapenda) of Deli Serdang, Sri Armayani, SH, confirmed her agency’s readiness to record Land and Building Tax (PBB) obligations as well as fees related to underground water utilization.
“We are ready; our team will conduct an extensive data collection drive across all chicken farms operating in Pantai Labu,” Sri Armayani confirmed.
Such administrative inventory is vital to match actual field objects with government records, verifying land and building dimensions, tax object status, and financial obligations owed to the regional treasury.
Meanwhile, journalists attempted to contact the Sub-district Head (Camat) of Pantai Labu, Boby Arianto, S.STP., M.AP., via WhatsApp to clarify land legality and operational permits in his jurisdiction. However, as of publication time, the sub-district head has remained silent and provided no response.
Local residents continue to await concrete action from local authorities, calling for transparent investigations to answer core questions: whether the land is utilized according to designated spatial planning, whether unauthorized land conversion took place, whether all farms are legally licensed, and whether regional duties are fully paid.
Should inspections reveal regulatory violations, residents demand firm law enforcement and administrative sanctions. Conversely, if all land use and permits are declared compliant, the government is expected to deliver a clear, transparent explanation to the public. For local residents, the issue transcends poultry farming—land status must be transparent, permits must be legitimate, tax compliance must be enforced, and regulations must apply equally to all business actors.
The conflict in Pantai Labu highlights broader spatial planning and environmental management challenges frequently faced by coastal sub-districts in North Sumatra. As agricultural and industrial activities expand, boundaries between protected forest zones (Hutan Lindung), state-owned plantation concessions (PTPN), and private commercial lands often become blurred, necessitating strict regulatory oversight by regency and provincial authorities.
Under Indonesian Law No. 26 of 2007 on Spatial Planning and Ministry of Environment and Forestry guidelines, operating commercial livestock farms on protected or unverified forest land carries severe legal and environmental penalties. Uncontrolled poultry farming without proper waste management systems can lead to groundwater contamination, odor pollution, and ecosystem degradation in fragile coastal environments.
Furthermore, compliance with underground water utilization taxes (Pajak Air Tanah) and Land and Building Tax (PBB-P2) represents a crucial revenue source for Deli Serdang Regency. Comprehensive field audits led by DPRD and Bapenda are expected to set a precedent for business licensing enforcement and spatial accountability across the regency.