Plan to relocate Kalimantan river for coal mining to be reviewed

The plan to relocate the Kandilo river in Pasir Regency, East Kalimantan to make way for coal mining operation will be reviewed to prevent a further damage in the environment, Kompas reported on Tuesday.

Regent of the Pasir regency, Ridwan Suwidi, said in Samarinda on Monday that the permit to relocate the Kandilo river was issued by his predecessor in order to make way for coal mining operation.

“We are reviewing the license, and if it is possible, it will be revoked,” he was quoted as saying. The relocation of the river, according to him, would cause a further damage in the environment.

He said that the mushrooming coal mining operations in the regency has seriously damaged the environment because many of the coal miners had ignored the mining regulations.

He cited that many former mining sites in the regency had been left without being rehabilitated, causing a serious environmental problem. (*)