KPK Prevents Corruption In Mining Sector In 19 Provinces

Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (Antara Bali) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have attached greater importance to preventing corruption not only focused on going after corruption suspects.

This year KPK is conducting control to prevent corruption in the coal and mineral mining sector through coordination and supervision scheme in 19 provinces.

KPK already conducted supervision over and take preventive measures against corruption in the coal and mineral mining sector in 12 provinces last year.

The move by KPK followed its finding of 10 corruption cases  in the coal and mineral mining sector, Melkior Nahar from the non governmental organization of environmentalists (Walhi), said.

The 12 provinces are Central Sulawesi, Riau Islands, East Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Jambi, South Sumatra,  Bangka Belitung, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi,  and North Maluku Utara.

Melkior said control  in the mining sector covers a number of aspects including  compliance with  regulation in licensing procedure, state revenues  and social  and environmental aspects.

Based on the calculation of the Coalition of Anti Mining Mafia  showed that from 2010-2013  potential losses in state revenues  in the mining sector  in the two provinces of  East Nusa Tenggara (NTT)  and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) reached Rp64.47 billion, he said

The losses did not include damage to the environment with tens of thousands of hectares of protected  and conservation forests destroyed  by mining operations.

Data at the planning directorate general of the forestry ministry showed that in 2014, around 255,273 hectares of mining concessions  in NTT and NTB  are in protected forest areas  and 11,182 hectares  in conservation forests.

He said the use of conservation forests for non forestry activities is against law.  

Protected forest areas could be used for  underground mining , he added.

Therefore, the granting of mining licenses  in the two provinces was a violation of the law, he said. (WDY)