S. Sumatra police seize over 700 coal trucks for using public roads

A total of 705 trucks transporting coal through public roads in South Sumatra have been seized by the local police in a joint raid with the provincial transportation office to uphold the local bylaw which bans coal transport via public roads.

Head of the transportation and communications office at the provincial administration, Musni Wijaya was quoted by local reports as saying that the trucks were apprehended during the joint operation held in the past few days. He added that there are still many breaching the bylaw.

The reports did not say which companies own the coal trucks.

According to the bylaw, introduced last year, that coal transport is not allowed to pass through public roads to stop pollution problems and resolves traffic problem. They must go through special roads developed by the miners. A company called PT Servor has developed a special coal road, but has been forced to close the new road for repair following a recent flooding incident. (*)