Coalminer Tanito Harum heeds warning from E. Kalimantan authority

East Kalimantan-based coalminer PT Tanito Harum has begun repairing environmental damages in its mining locations as asked by local authorities, local daily Kaltim Post reported Wednesday.

?We have started repairing the damages,? the paper quoted as saying Budi Perkasa, Tanito?s environmental affairs section head.

Tanito was among the five coal mining firms accused of causing environmental damages in their mining areas. The other four were PT Fajar Bumi Sakti, PT Baiduri Enterprises, PT Multi Harapan Utama and PT Kitadin. The five firms operate coalmines in East Kalimantan?s Kutai Kartanegara regency.

Kutai Kartanegara?s environmental office (Bapedalda) recently gave Multi Harapan Utama and Kitadin six months to repair environmental damages in their mining locations. Earlier, Bapedalda had asked the five companies to repair damages in their mining locations, but they reportedly had paid little attention to it.(*)