Legislators urge stern action against illegal miners in West Sumatera

The House of Representatives (DPR) has called on West Sumatra?s provincial administration to take a stern measure against rampant illegal mining activities in the coal concession area owned by state owned coal mining company PT Batubara Bukit Asam, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Thursday.

Irwan Prayitno, the chairman of the House?s Commission XIII, said in Jakarta on Wednesday that the illegal mining activities in the Ombilin coalmine area could no longer be tolerated. ?The illegal mining activities have caused a serious damage to the environment,? he added.

He said that the activities of the illegal miners such as PT Malindo had covered more than 900 hectares of area. ?It seems that the local government has issued a mining permit over the concession area already owned by other company,? he added.

Irwan said that the illegal mining activities had not only caused a serious destruction to the environment but also threatened the life of the workers, who received a payment of only Rp 30,000 a day for the dangerous job. (*)