Many coal miners ignore reclamation requirement

Many coal mining companies in South Kalimantan leave their mining sites without conducting reclamation works as required under their mining contract due to the lack of supervision from the local government, Kompas reported on Tuesday.

Speaking in his lecture at the University of Lambung Mangkurat in Banjarmasin on Monday, Professor Koesnadi Hardjasoemantri said that many regencies in South Kalimantan could not effectively control the mining activities in their areas due to the absence of development and environmental asessment agency (Bappedal).

“Without the help of Beppedal, it will be difficult for the regency to control the mining activities effectively,” he said.

He therefore called on all natural resources rich agencies to set up Bappedal so that all the mining activities would receive a significant control. (*)