Central Kalimantan Govt vows to curb illegal miners
Wednesday, February 27 2002 - 02:13 AM WIB
Central Kalimantan Governor Asmawi Agani said on Tuesday that illegal gold mining activities in the province must be immediately stopped due to serious impact on the environment.
He was quoted by the Kompas daily as saying that at least 400,000 ha of land had been badly affected by the illegal mining activity as the miners used mercury in their operation.
Speaking during a coordination meeting on curbing the illegal mining, he said that some 112,000 people were involved in the illegal gold mining activity.
He added that the illegal mining activity had also affected the operation of legal gold mining companies. He pointed out that reclamation program of gold mining companies had been blocked by the illegal miners who were still looking for gold at the mining sites.(*)