Illegal Gold Mining Rampant in South Kalimantan, Authorities Step Up Enforcement Operations

Illegal gold mining activity is increasingly rampant and has encroached upon forest areas and river basins in a number of regions in South Kalimantan Province. The Provincial Government and the South Kalimantan Regional Police are intensifying operations to curb illegal mining and secure forest areas.

“Recently, illegal gold mining activity has become rampant in a number of areas. The Provincial Government together with the South Kalimantan Regional Police are now intensifying operations to curb illegal mining and secure forest areas,” said Rudiono Herlambang, Head of the Protection and Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems Division at the South Kalimantan Forestry Office, following a coordination meeting on forest area security at the South Kalimantan Regional Police Headquarters on Wednesday (19/8).

Rudiono said his office has inventoried illegal gold mining practices in a number of areas. Some of them have encroached upon forest areas and upstream river basins of the Meratus Mountains, up to the border of Central Kalimantan Province. The illegal gold mines are suspected of involving unscrupulous officials.

“In several operations we have carried out, we have succeeded in arresting suspects and securing gold mining equipment. These mine workers are not only local residents but also from outside the region, and some locations also use heavy equipment on a massive scale,” said Rudiono. He confirmed that enforcement operations will continue.

The illegal gold mining activity has caused environmental damage to the surrounding area, river basins and forest areas. The use of mercury to purify gold metal in mining activities has also polluted the river basin ecosystem. The mining locations are spread across Tabalong, Tanah Laut, Tanah Bumbu and Kotabaru regencies.

Rudiono further acknowledged that the lack of forestry police personnel has hampered efforts to curb illegal gold mining practices. Moreover, at present almost all personnel are being deployed to assist with forest and land fire handling efforts.

Previously, residents from various regions had reported the rampant illegal gold mining activity that damages forest areas and rivers, the source of people’s livelihoods. Various reports submitted to local governments and law enforcement officials were deemed not to have received a response in line with the public’s expectations.