DPRD Calls Environmental Damage In East Kalimantan Due To Overexploitation Of Nature

Chairman of Commission III DPRD East Kalimantan (Kaltim) Veridiana Huraq Wang. (AMONG)

KALTIM - Head of Commission III of the East Kalimantan DPRD (Kaltim) Veridiana Huraq Wang conveyed that uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources has caused environmental damage in East Kalimantan.

"In the last few days, a number of areas in East Kalimantan have experienced disasters such as floods, landslides and road damage due to environmental damage, coupled with high rainfall intensity," said Veridiana in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Thursday, March 31.

He admitted that he had received complaints from the community around the Lantung River, North Samarinda District.

"Their settlements and gardens were flooded. It is suspected that this happened due to the environmental damage caused by illegal mining activities," he said, as reported by Antara.

According to him, it is illegal mining that damages the environment because as a result of their activities the excavated lands slowly cover the river channel so that silting occurs then when it rains the water overflows and causes flooding. "Because these illegal mines carry out activities that do not follow the rules," he explained.

In addition to the problem of undirected exploitation, Veridiana added, the reclamation funds by the government are not balanced with the environmental damage caused.

"The budget for reclamation is actually not enough to repair the environment damaged by mining activities," he said.

In the future, Commission III of the East Kalimantan DPRD claimed to be calling the East Kalimantan Environmental Service (DLH) and related parties to hear an explanation of what problems were occurring in the East Kalimantan environment.

"We will take an inventory related to environmental problems regarding how the permits are given and what forms of planning have been approved," he concluded.