NGOs protest plan to exploit coal on Bukit Soeharto forest

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Kutai Kertanegara regency, East Kalimantan, grouped in Konsorsium Lingkar, protested plans to allow the exploitation of huge coal reserves on the Bukit Soeharto Hill conservation forest area, arguing it would cause serious environmental damage.

Coordinator of Konsorsium Lingkar Erwinsyah SE told the local Kaltim Post daily Wednesday that the forest conservation area must be rehabilitated to protect the local environment.

The Bukit Soeharto Hill is considered as a major water catchments area. Environmentalists have said that exploiting the forest would cause environmental damage particularly drying up water reserves in a number of river including the country?s largest Sungai Mahakam River.

The local government is considering to exploit some 150 million tons of coal reserves on the Bukit Soeharto area.(*)