By: Choirul Fuadi)*
CIDISS, Central Kalimantan – soil fertility in Pangkut village, Arut Utara district, Kotawaringin Barat regency, Central Kalimantan Province not only for tree and palm oil but also the land contain a wonderful treasure inside. Gold dust with 93% precipitates in the land.
By the treasure inside, 100 % people around Arut Utara district works as miner and make the mining as livelihood. Even illegal, they keep dig on depth eight meters. From the mining, they can get money till IDR 600 thousand each day.
“In one day, we can get one gram till two gram of gold,” said Kiran who lived in Pangkut villages, Arut Utara district, such as quote in Boreonews.co.id.
Kiran and the little brother are panning for gold near of palm oil plantation. His entire body get wet full of mud and sweat. Splashes of mud in face did not make dampen the spirits to panning the gold dust.
The Sound generator engine sump accompany hand spraying pipes to ground began slowly into mud. He wiped his black – colored watches are waterproof due to splashing dirt brown mud and water.
“I know this is illegal, but I don’t have another livelihood,” said him while wiping her face with a dull clothes which also he use to cover the head
Another miner, Jumliadi (42), admitted, everyday people of Pangkut has been panning for gold since long time ago. For generations, it becomes citizen livelihood. There was no other livelihood, being a fisherman is not promising again, also working in oil palm plantations. Generally, the people’s Pangkut land has been sold to company such for palm oil plantation.
But from the illegal activity, a lot of damage occurs in the area. After the gold panning, it left pool and make dangerous the people, the habitat of flora and fauna become disturbed and on unbalance condition. As the worse, chemicals material such as mercury generated pollutes and threatens the existence of the river.
