Tangerang to combat illegal sand mining

TANGERANG: Responding to public calls, Tangerang administration has established a team to handle the rampant illegal sand mining along the regency's northern coast.

"The team comprises public order officers and officials from the environmental management agency, development planning board and the finance office," Regent Ismet Iskandar said on Thursday.

On Wednesday, hundreds of residents urged the administration to put an end to the illegal sand mining, which they said had depleted the water supply, leaving too little to irrigate their rice fields.

Furthermore, the condition of roads in the area had deteriorated, damaged by the trucks used to haul the sand.

They also accused local authorities of taking bribes from the parties carrying out the illegal activity. -- JP