The export of slate kitchen tops and household accessories has not simply bought investment to Jember but has made it prone to drought, landslides and floods caused by the over-exploitation of more than 1,600 resource-rich knolls in the region.
Many small and medium scale enterprises in the region have, for many years, produced household products and accessories for export to Japan, Europe and United States.
The quarrying of stones and sands from local hills has employed thousands of workers but has also flatten most knolls to the ground, causing landslides and floods during the rainy season.
The knolls, which once stood between five and 60 meters in height are found only in Jember and West Java's regency of Tasikmalaya. They have been mined of their raw materials for use in numerous kinds of kitchen furnishings and household accessories, as well as for use as construction materials.
Sudarsianto, a senior staff member and researcher at the state-owned tobacco plantation PTP XII, said the local government should regulate the uncontrolled mining of the knolls, which has affected the company's tobacco production.
"The company can no longer produce quality tobacco leaves following the disappearance in the past few years of the many knolls in and around the plantation," he said.
"We have filed a complaint with the local government several times but the mining continues uncontrolled," he told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
He said that, in the past, the knolls prevented strong winds from damaging the tobacco plants.
"The quality of tobacco leaves has diminished because of the disappearance of the knolls and the bushes grown on them," he said.
The company has long supplied tobacco leaves for the production of the world renowned Na Oogst cigars in Bremen, Germany.
Head of the environmental management and supervision section at the local environment and sanitation agency, Priyo, said his office has no authority to control the excessive mining and quarrying activities, as most companies have permits from the local trade and industry agency.
"The local trade and industry agency should take action and revoke the permits of companies deteriorating the environment," he said.
Hery Listiantoro, from the local trade and industry agency, denied that the companies and individuals quarrying stones and sands from the knolls have obtained permits from the local administration.
Hery said his office, along with the local energy and mineral agency and the local police, had set up a joint task force to enforce Bylaw No 17/2002 on mining, but it had met a strong resistance from miners.
"The local government has prepared a new draft bylaw that stipulates that, in reference to the state constitution, all mineral resources in the regency are supervised by the local government and the mining policy will be made in harmony with environmental bylaws," he said. (fin)
