Coal miner Tanjung Alam warned for polluting river in Kalimantan

Mining company PT Tanjung Alam Jaya which operates a coal mine in Banjar regecy, South Kalimantan has received a strong warning from the local office of the environmental controlling agency Bappeda for polluting Riam Kiwa river, near the company's mining area, Kompas reported on Wednesday.

The head of the local Bappeda, Rahmadi Kurdi, said that the warning was issued after a laboratory assessment indicated that the pollution level at the river, where the company dumped its mineral waste, is far above the minimum standards.

According to him, based on the result of the laboratory assessment, the pollution level at the river reached 438 milligram per litter, far above the minimum standard of 400 milligram per litter.

The company has been required to build adequate waste water treatment in order to reduce the pollution, he said. "The company is quite cooperative and agree to make improvement in its waste water treatment," headded. (*)