Prabumilih opposes coal mining

Prabumulih Mayor Ridho Yahya said Wednesday that his administration would no longer issue coal mining permits in the South Sumatra city as it is deemed to cause environmental damage.

He was quoted as saying that four IUP coal mining permits, covering a combined area of 30,000 ha, or more than half of the city's total land area of 43,450 ha, were not extended last year.

The administration issued 7 IUP coal mining permits in 2010.

Ridho feared that allowing coal miners to continue operate in the mayoralty would threaten rubber and fruit plantations run by the local people as coal mining requires huge acreage of land.(*)