South Kalimantan legislators question planned coal transport fee

The provincial House of Representatives of South Kalimantan questioned the plans by the local administration to allow coal trucks to pass through state road by imposing a Rp 5,000 fee per ton (US$=Rp10.100), the local Banjarmasin Post daily said.

The paper quoted legislators as saying that the plan had no legal basis.

The South Kalimantan administration plans to coal transport fee as part of efforts to raise revenue of the local government.

"Without any legal basis, the fee would be illegal," said legislator Dahri, adding that the administration should first meet with lawmakers to resolve the legal obstacle to the plan.

The paper said that the plan was to allow coal trucks to pass through the South ring road which links to the Trisakti Banjarmasin Port. But the road, which was constructed with financial help of the World Bank, was only meant easing traffic pressure in the Banjarmasin area not for heavy coal trucks.(*)