Official upset over quarry trucks

Official upset over quarry trucks

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: Vice Governor Bachtiar Murad is upset with the damage being caused by a number of trucks which are hauling sand from local quarries.

"The drivers drive at such high speeds that they not only endanger themselves, but cause accidents as well," Murad was quoted by Antara as saying.

"This can't go on. We'll take action to prevent the roads from being damaged further and to create pleasant driving conditions for motorists," he said.

Murad said he was willing to resign if his efforts to discipline the truck drivers failed.

He named several roads in Tapin regency and Banjarmasin as the worst damaged by the quarry trucks. He put the value of the damaged roads at Rp 50 billion (US$22 million) while the benefit received from the quarrying activities was only "several hundred million rupiah". (swe)