Illegal mining in West Kalimantan continues

The growing illegal mining activities in several regencies in West Kalimantan are continuing despite the local government's intensive anti-illegal mining operation, Kompas reported on Friday.

The newspaper said that many illegal miners, particularly in Bangakayan regency, stopped their activities only when the local administration and the local police carried out their anti-illegal mining operation.

"But when the security officials stopped their activities and returned home from the mining sites, the illegal miners appeared again and continued their activities," said Suryadman Gidot, vice regent of Bengkayan regency.

According to him, nearly a thousand of people are conducting illegal mining activities at the regency's seven districts, causing a serious damage in the environment. Most of the illegal miners use traditional mining equipment to hunt for gold in these areas. (*)