Sand mining plan opposed

TANGERANG: Hundreds of residents of Bermis village in the district of Cisauk in Tangerang regency, complained on Saturday of a businessman's plan to excavate sand from the village.

The mining businessman, identified as H. Koplo, had already stationed two excavating machines in the village, even though the village head, district chief and the village empowerment body (BPD) chairman, as well as local residents rejected the plan at a meeting on Thursday.

"Sand mining will cause great environmental damages to this village, and we will lose our water sources; of course, we object to the plan," said Endang, a resident.

Meanwhile, M. Sholeh, the BPD chairman, said that the villagers could take the law into their own hands if the businessman refused to listen to them.

"If he proceeds with his plan, I will not be responsible if the residents become angry, burn the excavators and attack the miner," he said.--JP