South Kalimantan Governor rejects demand to liquidate illegal coal mining curbing team

South Kalimantan Governor Sjachriel Darham rejected calls from the local Councilor to liquidate the illegal coal mining curbing team, the Banjarmasin Post daily reported on Tuesday.

Sjachriel said that the team was still needed to help curb the rampant illegal coal mining activities in the province.

He also dismissed suggestion that the team had failed, pointing out that the scale of the illegal mining problem in the province was huge. He said that more time was needed for the team to be successful with its mission.

The provincial House of Representatives commission D on mining earlier recommended a liquidation of the team on grounds that it had failed, and to allow the local mining office to handle the job.

Illegal coal mining activity has been a serious problem in the South Kalimantan province affecting the local mining investment climate and threatening the environment.(*)