We are discussing the problem of post-mining land damage and landslide disasters. Many people are born with smallpox
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin affirmed that the government will issue a presidential regulation to follow up on mining practices conducted without permits that result in disasters and losses to the community.

"The government is drafting a presidential regulation on accelerating and strengthening the coordination of post-mining reclamation without mining permits. All unauthorized mining must be shut down," Amin remarked after chairing a morning meeting with several ministers at his official residence in Jakarta on Monday.

The government involved the Indonesian Military and Indonesian National Police in enforcing the law against the owners and perpetrators of illegal mining activities.

"We will issue the presidential regulation and form the armed forces immediately. We will also make policies for handling post-mining socially and economically, training small people's mining, and controlling the circulation of chemicals," he stated.

Unlicensed mining activities have led to natural disasters and waste generated from mining practices.

Unlicensed mining activities also affected the health of the community around the mining site.

"We are discussing the problem of post-mining land damage and landslide disasters. Many people are born with smallpox," he revealed.

Unlicensed mining activities reached 8,683, on an area of 146,540 hectares based on data from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in April 2017.

Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya spoke of 7,464 licensed mines and 8,683 unlicensed mines being on their records.

Some 59,903 hectares of land, where unlicensed mining was conducted, have been reclaimed.

The closure of illegal mines must be identified comprehensively, the minister stated.
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Translator: Fransiska N, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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