Open-pit-mining

Open-pit-mining

From Koran Tempo

A government regulation in lieu of law was issued on March 11 amending Law No. 41/1999 on forestry, allowing 13 companies to resume open-pit mining in protected forests.

This regulation, an obvious policy blunder on the part of the government, was based more on greed without any concern over the fate of the nation's present and future generations.

The government should realize the extent of the losses that will arise from the environmental damage caused by the mining operations, with the accompanying political and economic consequences.

How much money will be needed to repair the damaged protected forests? The costs no doubt will be greater than the benefits of the exploitation.

PONDA Bandung, West Java