Banjarbaru Ready to Take Over Three Lakes

Banjarbaru, Kalsel 18/2 (AntaranewsKalsel) - The municipal government of Banjarbaru ready to take over and to manage three lakes owned by diamond mining contract holder PT Galuh Cempaka.

"We are ready to take over the management in corresponding with the environment norm and the request is still being processed by central government," said Head of Banjarbaru Environment Agency Fahrudin, Saturday.

The three lakes situated in Sub-district of Cempaka are Lake Seran, Caramin Lake, and Cempaka Lake.

According to him, the Ministry of Environment through the Directorate General of Mines and Minerals has given green light associated with Banjarbaru rewuest to manages the three lakes, for assessing the company is no longer operating.

"The Ministry has been given the green light and the process entered the stage of finalization, so just waiting for the official decision is expected in the near future," he hoped.

The take-over must have legitimacy and authority is in the hand of the ministry who has given a license contract of work to the company until 2034.

"We got the information the company has been given a second warning from the Ministry of Energy. This February will be the third, because there is no activity at all at the site," he said.

The diamond mine of ??PT Galuh Cempaka is 2,900 hectares. While Seran Lake and Caramin Lake has an area of ??70 hectares whose land owned by citizens and had been purchased by the company.

Currently there is absolutely no mining activity and the quite beautiful lake is turned into a tourist attraction by surrounding community and visited every day, especially on holidays.