East Kalimantan police investigate 48 mining licenses

The East Kalimantan police are investigating 48 mining licenses allegedly obtained illegally as part of the local police's serious commitment to curb the growing activities of illegal miners, Kompas reported on Thursday.

The chief of the local police, Djosua M. Sitompul, said in Balikpapan on Wednesday that he had established a special team called Satgas 006 to deal with illegal mining activities in the province.

Besides investigating the mining licenses allegedly obtained illegally, the special police team also carries out investigation on the possible involvement of corruption in the issuance of mining permits by the local regency administration.

He said that the local government in the regency level had mostly abused their power in issuing the mining permits. According to him, one regency administration in the province issued as many as 250 mining permits only within three months, without considering their impact on the environment. (*)