Exploitation of MT Soeharto will dry out water reserves

The development on coal deposits in the Mount Soeharto forest reservation area in East Kalimantan could destroy the water reserves for a number of rivers down the hill including the country?s largest river Sungai Mahakam, Republika reported on Thursday.

Istiardjo, the head of the mining office in East Kalimantan, said in Samarinda on Wednesday that at present Mt Soeharto functions as the main water catchments area for a number of rivers in the area. If the coal deposits are exploited, the water debate for the nearby rivers would decline sharply.

Previously the regent of Kutai Syaukani proposed the opening of coal mining activities on the mountain in a bid to reduce forest fires. The coal deposits in the area have become the sources of fire which often hit the local forests. (*)