200,000 tons of illegal coal seized in Kutai, East Kalimantan
Saturday, October 8 2005 - 02:38 AM WIB
The police in Kutai Kartanegara regency, East Kalimantan seized at least 200,000 tons of illegal coal during an anti-illegal mine operation held in the regency last week,Kompas reported on Saturday.
The chief of the local military command, Lt. Colonel Dewi Lestari said in Tangarong, the capital of the Kutai Kartanegara regency on Friday that the coal was seized from a illegal coal mine located in Sangasanga and Muara Jawa districts.
He said the Tangarong military command was still searching for at least five businessmen for their alleged involvement in the illegal coal mining activities. In addition to coal, the police also seized six units of heavy mining equipment from the illegal coal mine.
Illegal coal mines are mushrooming in many parts of East Kalimanta, the largest coal producer in the country. The illegal coal mines which mostly operate within a mining area of a licensed coal mining firm has caused a serious damage in the environment.(*)