Illegal Gold Mine Near Mandalika Closed

The location of the illegal gold mine on Mount Djang, Prabu Village, Pujut District, Central Lombok Regency, NTB Province in Central Lombok, Wednesday (10/12/2025). ANTARA/Akhyar Rosidi

CENTRAL LOMBOK - Kodim 1620/Lombok Tengah together with joint forces escorted and secured the process of closing illegal gold mines near Mandalika or Gunung Djang, Kuta Village, Pujut District.

"This activity is carried out as a follow-up to local government policies in stopping mining activities without permits which are considered to endanger the community and damage the environment," said Dandim 1620/Lombok Tengah, Lt. Col. Arm Karimmuddin Rangkuti as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, December 10.

He said Babinsa's involvement in the activity was a form of support for the government's efforts to preserve the environment and ensure public safety.

"This illegal mining activity not only damages the ecosystem, but also has the potential to cause accidents for miners who work without self-security standards and groups," he said.

In the implementation of the closure, personnel from the 1620 Kodim together with the police helped secure the area, assisted in the process of sterilizing the location, and appealed to residents not to carry out illegal mining activities on Mount Djang.

Joint forces together with the Kuta Village Government also closed the excavated mine pits, and also installed a prohibition sign and closed access to points that had been used as excavation sites.

"We hope that the public can understand the dangers and long-term impacts caused, both on health, the environment, and the safety of ecosystems that incidentally in the Kuta area are tourist attractions," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of Kuta Village, Mirate, and his entourage gave an appeal to residents who were at the location to stop mining activities and miners were asked to leave the location where residents were found carrying out illegal mining of around 40 people.

Several local residents expressed their appreciation for the government's quick steps in stopping illegal mining activities.

They hope that the Gunung Djang area can recover and no longer become an accident-prone location that has the potential to damage nature.

"The area is included in a protected forest area, so there should be no mining," he said.