The House of Representatives (DPR) has expressed support for the government’s policy to check illegal tin ore mining in Bangka Belitung Islands province as part of efforts to minimize environmental damage and state losses.

“(Our) working visit this time is not only to forge a relationship but also to see the extent to which tin mining policies have been updated,” the deputy chairman of Commission VII of the DPR, Eddy Soeparno, said in Pangkalpinang, the capital of Bangka Belitung Islands Province, on Friday.

Meanwhile, acting Bangka Belitung Islands Governor Ridwan Djamaluddin shared at least three reasons behind the government regulation, which is aimed at firmly stamping out illegal tin mining in the province.

“The three reasons why illegal mining needs to be dealt with sternly are first (to protect) public safety,” he said.

Quite a few illegal tin miners have died after being buried and drowned while mining, he explained.

“So, it is the government’s duty to protect the public’s safety,” he said.

The second reason is that illegal tin miners inflict losses on the state because they do not pay taxes, and royalties, he informed.

The third reason is that illegal tin miners exploit as much tin as possible without caring about the environment, he said.

To prevent illegal tin mining, the provincial government is using the persuasive approach with local residents and corporate bodies, he added.

Source: Antara News