Kalimantan legislators urge revocation of mining permits

Members of the legislative council at Tabalong regency in South Kalimantan have demanded the local government to revoke the mining permits issued to four coal mining companies, PT Bulungan Mandiri Lestari, PT Putra Mitra Usaha, CV Charisma Barito and PT Anugerah Mulia, Banjarmasin Post reported on Thursday.

The local legislators said that some of the mining areas of the companies were located in protected forest. The mining operation would cause harm to the local environment, they argue.

The local government issued the permits to the four firms in a bid to raise revenue for the administration. But according to the paper, the move has drawn protest on fears of negative impact to the environment.(*)