Regent moves to curb illegal miners

Pasir Regent Yusriansyah Syarkawi instructed the related authorities in Muara Komam and Batu Sopang districts in East Kalimantan to take firm action against illegal gold miners in the area as their activity had damaged the local environment as well as road infrastructure.

The local Kaltim Post daily reported Saturday that the regent made the move after he made an impromptu visit to the site of the illegal mining activity earlier this week. The visit was made following complaints from local villagers who concerned.

Yusriansyah was accompanied by other Pasir regent top officials including military chief Lt. Colonel Djunaidi, head of mining office Sanusi Oneih, secretary of the Bapedalda environmental watchdog, and Andi Ridwan Mansyur.

Yusriansyah said that the administration and local mining office had allocated some 1,800 ha site to be developed into the people?s mining to absorb the illegal miners who are mostly traditional miners.

But the paper said that the people?s mining concept might not work if there was no gold in the specified site.(*)