Illegal Gold Mining (PETI) activities are once again rampant in Simoncol Village, Batang Tarang District, Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan. The use of heavy machinery such as excavators to illegally dredge land was observed operating freely, completely disregarding mining regulations applicable in Indonesia.
The impact of this mining is starting to be felt directly by local residents. One of the most visible indicators is the pollution of the Landak River, whose water has grown increasingly murky, alongside the threat of damage to residents' plantation ecosystems, which risk landslides due to massive land erosion.
Rumors are circulating among the public regarding routine payoff practices allegedly serving as grease to keep these illegal activities running without disruption. This situation has caused deep disappointment among residents, who feel that law enforcement on the ground tends to be passive and fails to target the masterminds behind the operation of the heavy machinery.
Local residents hope for decisive action from the authorities, particularly the West Kalimantan Regional Police, to immediately stop the ongoing environmental destruction. Failure to crack down on these PETI practices is feared to trigger a more severe ecological disaster in the future if left unchecked without adequate oversight.
