C. Kalimantan urged to curb illegal gold mining

The center for environmental study of the University of Palangka Raya in Central Kalimantan has called on the local government to curb activities of illegal gold miners along the Kahayan river to prevent the river from being heavily polluted.

Andrie Eba, the head of the center, said on Wednesday that a stricter measure was necessary so that their activities would not cause more environmental destruction in the future.

"The mercury used by the illegal miners in their activities has caused a pollution in the river. Although the level of the pollution has yet to reach an alarming level, a stricter control is needed," he told Kalimantan Pos.

He said that the province which possess a wide range of in mineral resources should have an affective policy in supervising the growing mining activities so that the negative impact of such mining operations could be minimized.

The center added that the local government should start for now to outline a policy which will not only be able to encourage the development of the province's mineral resources but also has the capacity to protect the environment.

With the implementation of the autonomy law beginning next year, the local government would have more power to manage and control its own resources, he said. "This opportunity should be maximally benefited for the welfare of the local people," he added. But he warned that the environment protection should not be ignored despite the increased efforts in the development of the mineral resources. (*)