Illegal mining still rampant in South Kalimantan

Illegal coal mining in Kotabaru regency in South Kalimantan province remains rampant as the government-sponsored team to curb illegal mining has not been working optimal.

Banjarmasin Post reported that the illegal miners had shifted their activity in the evening since the government launched a curbing team.

The paper said that the revelation of the night activity of the illegal miners had send the local Kotabaru parliament, and the administration to seek new strategy to fight the illegal miners.

"The illegal mining activity is destroying the environment. We have prove but there's no strong action from the government curbing team against the illegal miners," said Noor Irfansyah of the local Amsil environmental NGO.(*)