Over 290,000 hectares of forests in S. Kalimantan turned into mining sites
Friday, August 5 2005 - 02:29 AM WIB
At least 293,264 hectares of forests in South Kalimantan have turned into mining sites with more than 354 mining companies operating in the area, Kompas reported on Friday.
Sony Pratono, the head of the mining office in the province, said in Banjarmasin on Thursday that most of the companies had not obtained leasing rights from the Forestry Ministry.
"At least 335 mining companies operating in forest areas have not obtained leasing rights to use the forest areas," he said.
According to him, a mining company whose mining area overlaps with productive forests should obtain a leasing right from the ministry of forests.
At present, only 19 companies have obtained leasing rights from the ministry to operate in forests covering areas of about 46,043 hectares. (*)