Rusman, Samarinda – After illegal logging, coal mining is now the biggest danger to the environment of East Kalimantan. Many coal mines – especially those run by local cooperatives – have abandoned prudent principles in running their mines, leading to environmental destruction in the respective areas.

In Sangasanga, Kutai Kartanegara regency, for instance, a coal mine managed by such a cooperative has simply been abandoned without any attempt at restoration, and leaving the surrounding environment in a critical state. A local resident, Nurdin, 36, expressed concern that irresponsible actions have damaged the environment. "The quality of ground water was good before and could be used for people's daily needs. But not now. It has been polluted. It's smelly and isn't clear any more," he said.

Legal cases involving the coal mining industry in East Kalimantan are becoming more prevalent. Police in Kutai Kartanegara regency are probing 26 cases involving the issuance of forged mining permits. So far, four people have been named as suspects for forging mining permits issued by the local regency government.

Data from the East Kalimantan Statistics Agency reveals that the production capacity of coal in 2004 was estimated at 50 million tons annually.

The figure has declined compared to the previous year's total of 55 million tons. In 2003, non-oil and gas natural resources contributed as much as 21 percent to the Gross Regional Product of East Kalimantan, or Rp 88 trillion (US$8.8 billion) annually.

Meanwhile, uncontrolled coal mines run by cooperatives have caused the public to become concerned, with the managing director of the East Kalimantan Chamber of Commerce, Ruben Tumade, deploring the unrestrained issuance of mining permits by local officials without going through a selection process or environmental supervision. "Just imagine, the environment that has been destroyed by illegal logging will get even worse with rampant illegal mining," said Ruben.

According to Ruben, mining permits should be issued by the provincial administration because local (regental) officials often invoke regional autonomy as an excuse to issue as many permits as possible, without concern for the environmental impacts. "The government must be stern in resolving the problem before the number of illegal coal mines swells further, because investors will not have faith in the government and this will create a bad image for the regional economy," he said.

Head of the East Kalimantan Mining and Mineral Resources Office, Syaiful Bahri, acknowledged that illegal coal mining was widespread at the moment and that most of the illegal miners only used simple tools. Most of the illegal mines are found in Kutai Kartanegara, West Kutai and East Kutai regencies, and Samarinda municipality.

He said that the problem was within the authority of the regental and municipal administrations and thus the provincial administration could not take action against environmental violations.