Tapin legislative council to summon regency govt over controversial coal mining ruling

The Tapin legislative council in South Kalimantan will summon the local regency administration over a controversial coal mining ruling, which moves against the central government mining policy.

The local Banjarmasin Post daily quoted council speaker Sirajiudin Noor as saying that the plan by the central government to revoke the ruling was a slap in the face for the local legislators, who approved the ruling.

The ruling, called Ruling No. 5/2000, stipulates a fee Rp 2,500 for each ton of coal transferred out of Tapin regency. The ministry of mineral resources and energy has asked the ministry of internal affairs to revoke five rulings issued by local governments because they moved against the national mining policy.

Sirajiudin claimed that the local legislative council approved the ruling in 2000 because the Tapin administration convinced the council that the Ruling No.5 was not in violation of central government rulings.

But since it now turns that the ruling was not in line with the central government mining policy, the local administration must take responsibility.

Meanwhile, administration secretary Mugeni dismissed Sirajiudin?s claims, pointing out that both the administration and the council were aware of the possibility of a judicial review over the ruling.(*)