War declared on illegal gold mining

JAMBI, Jambi: The Jambi provincial government has declared war on illegal gold mining, which has gone unchecked in the province for the past five years.

A team has been set up to deal with pollution resulting from illegal mining operations. The team also will take part in discussions on how to crack down on illegal miners.

The chief of the Environmental Impact Management Agency with the Jambi provincial administration, Saleh Sibli, said urgent action was necessary because illegal gold mining had increased mercury levels in rivers in Jambi, including the Batanghari River. -- JP