BLHD Investigate Alleged Barito River Pollution

By Ulul Maskuriah

Banjarmasin , South Kalimantan ( Antaranews ) - The South Kalimantan Environment Agency (BLHD) immediately investigate allegations of Barito River pollution due to heavy metals , such as coal, which happened in the last few months .

Head of South Kalimantan BLHD, Ikhlas, here on Monday said, the allegation of  pollution of Barito River have been reported to the Ministry of Environment.

According to him , the alleged pollution not only at one point , but some locations into a coal loading and unloading activities, especially those carried out at sea or in multiple locations in South Kalimantan waters.

Ikhlas said the alleged pollution of coal waste has been going on for a long time , as the incessant exploitation of the natural resources of coal since the last few decades.

Some locations suspected contaminated are Tabunio waters at the mouth of the Barito River in Tanah Laut District, then Asam-Asam waters, also in Tanah Laut, and Bunati Beach, Tanah Bumbu District, also in Kotabaru and Tapin waters, due to the proliferation of special coal ports.

BLHD also received a report on the pollution of coal waste in fishing waters along the Barito River in Aluh-Aluh , Banjar and Barito Kuala district.

"Local residents complained about the condition of rivers and their catchment areas are polluted," he said.

Since the Barito river allegedly polluted, the fishermen catches dropped dramatically, so that public health is not only annoying, but also interfere with the people's economy.

Information wa collected, ships after doing barge unloading, immediately dispose the rest of the coal to the sea. Disposal of coal a lot done around the mouth of the Barito River or border waters 12 nautical miles South Kalimantan and Java Sea. Loading and unloading activities are already underway about the last two decades .

Earlier, Minister of Environment Balthasar Kambuaya urged local leaders and institutions in the region traversed along the Barito River to participate in efforts to reduce the pollution load of the river.