Legislators accuse Indominco Mandiri of polluting environment

The Bontang district legislators in East Kalimantan lambasted coal mining company PT Indominco Mandiri for polluting the local environment and expanding its operation into the Taman Nasional Kutai (TNK) conservation forest area.

The local Kaltim Post daily said that the accusation was made by the group of legislators during a visit Wednesday to Indominco Mandiri coal plant.

Legislator Dodi Rondonuwu claimed that he had obtained information that Indominco had expanded its operation into the TNK conservation area and the company had cut down trees in the forest and buried them underground.

He also accused Indominco of digging the so-called C-class mining minerals without any license.

Meanwhile, SHM Sianturi, an official of Indominco, flatly denied the allegations.

But on the environment pollution charge, Sianturi could not completely denied it.

He, however, said that Indominco had tried its best to minimize the negative impact of its operation into the local environment.(*)