Surge in diseases linked to mining

BANJARMASIN: Thousands of residents of Satui subdistrict in Kotabaru regency, South Kalimantan are suffering from upper respiratory infection due to air pollution caused by a major coal mining operation in the region.

Medical workers have also found cases of hypertension and malaria, which they believe are related to the pollution.

Data from the local community health center (Puskesmas) revealed that respiratory infections affected some 2,900 people in 2000. That number dropped to 2,351 in 2001, but cases of hypertension increased from 904 in 2000 to 1,141 the next year.

The head of the health center, Daru Dewa, said that as of May, the number of people suffering from respiratory problems had reached 251. He blamed the residents' poor health on the lack of measures to maintain sanitary conditions in the mining field.

Since mining started three years ago, nearly 1,900 trucks loaded with coal have been operating in the area every day, polluting the air.

Coal mining contributes some Rp 32 billion per year to the local government. --JP