Legislative council urges govt to withdraw Antang coal license

The Hulu Sungai Selatan regency legislative council in South Kalimantan demanded the local administration to annul the coal mining license of PT Antang Gunung Meratus due to the company?s bad track record in other areas, the local Banjarmasin Post reported Friday.

The paper quoted council Speaker Mukhtar Mukyar as saying that Antang had never follow government ruling and had often causing serious damage to local environment.

?Looking at the various violations committed by the company we think that Antang should not operate in this area,? he said, adding that the coal mining site should be instead given to other companies with good reputation and responsibility.

He criticized the government for not taking strong action against the violation made by Antang.

Eaerlier, the government has temporarily suspended the operation of Antang after the company had been allegedly violated several local rulings and caused heavy environmental destruction.

But head of local mining office Riswandi said that the government could not just complete terminate Antang mining operation in the area because the company was currently in the process of fulfilling the necessary requirements demanded by the administration.

Antang declined to comment on the legislative council?s demand.(*)