35,000 people involved in gold mining activities in C. Kalimantan

At least 35,000 people are involved in gold mining activities in Central Kalimantan, most of them are illegal miners, according to the Environmental Impact Management Agency's (Bapedalda) Central Kalimantan branch.

Central Kalimantan Bapedalda chairman Syachril Samad said on Friday that by the end of last year, these 35,000 people employed around 7,000 units of machinery to mine for gold, both in rivers and on lands.

"They are mostly illegal miners because they operate outside the people's mining areas," Syachril said in Bundaran Besar, Central Kalimantan.

He explained that about half of those people conducted their gold mining operation in rivers, while the other half on lands. But during rainy season like now, those mining for gold in rivers moved on lands.

Normally, those mining for gold in rivers consisted of local people, while those working on lands were new comers from various parts of the country.

Syachril noted that illegal gold mining activities in Central Kalimantan produced around five tons of mercury per annum that polluted rivers and lands in the province - but still within the tolerable level.

He said that his office would embark on a massive campaign to reduce mercury pollution in Central Kalimantan, by meeting with illegal miners in various areas. For the first stage, officials from Central Kalimantan Bapedalda would visit miners in Tumbang Samba with its Katingan river, and Kuala Kurun with its Kahayan river. (*)