217 illegal mining sites in NTT to be restored

Provincial legislative members in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) have called on the government to put in order all 217 illegal mining sites in the region, because the miners on one hand violate the regulations, while never contributing any taxes for regional development.

Legislative members from Golkar Faction headed by Umbu Purawoha, during their annual meeting in Kupang yesterday said that there has been environmental damage in 7 out of a total 13 districts in NTT due to illegal mining of natural resources for C-category. Such a category includes mining of marbles, pebbles, sands and stones at the shorelines and in the interior as well.

Golkar Faction said that the illegal mine may yield big endowments for locals, but it has damaged the most valuable cultivated plant in the region which is sandalwood with its sweet aroma.

"Years ago, the contribution of sandalwood to the regional budget could be up to 50% but now its almost nil, because of the stealing and lumbering of the trees, most of all, because of illegal mining in various places," said Umbu Purawoha

Governor Piet Tallo who was present during the event, said that the problem of the region is that locals needed money for their essentials while the government can not accommodate them with certain jobs they apply for.

But he added that if the Mining Department was more alert in handling the case, the region could get more income for its budget and the status of the miners could be converted into official instead of illegal. (*)