Batam puts an end to illegal sand quarrying

BATAM: The Batam Environment Impact Management Agency has put an end to illegal sand quarrying, which has damaged 83 hectares of beach front and caused extensive environment damage.

The agency’s crackdown has threatened the livelihoods of hundreds of families who live off of the practice. Agency head Dendi N. Purnomo said illegal sand quarrying had not only caused environmental damage, but also Rp 30 billion in financial loss annually.

“In the two days following the crackdown, a joint team has found evidence of environmental damage in several places. The most critical damage was discovered on Nongsa and Buntal islands. The two areas have lost a lot of land due to illegal quarrying,” he said.

The team confiscated tools used for quarrying sand questioned several people that they referred to as middlemen. — JP