Tomohon, Ekuatorial – Mount Lokon of North Sulawesi was facing destruction as more than dozens of mining companies exploiting its sands and stones, said a local villager to Ekuatorial, recently.
“If a company exploits around five hectares of lands, it means that hundreds of lands at Mount Lokon’s slope are dig up every year for Group C mining [which exploits non metal mineral resources],” said Tarsi Lumowa, villager of Kinilow I of North Tomohon district, North Sulawesi.
Lumowa cited PT Central Gumilang, one of the mining companies, managed to produce 4,200 cubic meters per year of materials by exploiting from its 5.59 hectares of areas located in the village.
As a result, he said that impacts of the exploitation were very significant during floods or earthquakes. “If floods happening, there were not just water, but soil, dirt, rocks hit our settlements,” he added.
Judi Turambi, Tomohon based green activist, said that Tomohon government deferred to businessmen over mining activities as many of the companies did not obtain legal permits for the operation. In addition, Turambi criticized that those business people were also currently assume political positions.
“Is it because they were once officials or now still assume their position at the administration that the government is reluctant to stop their activities? It is evident that local government ‘bows down’ to them,” he said.
He added that if local government still has its authority, then they will immediately checked the field and stopped operations without legal permits. “If not, then it will weaken law enforcement and local government will be seen as discriminating,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jeane Bolang, head of Tomohon mining agency, said there were eleven companies operating in Mount Lokon without legal operation permits. Yoseph Ikanubun
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