DENPASAR ~

Bali provincial government said they will help in finding solutions to sand miners in the area of Geopark Batur, Bangli regency, when the business is closed.

“We cannot just prohibit the sand mining business, but there should be a solution,” said Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika in Denpasar on Monday.

Pastika did not deny that the illegal sand mining activities in Batur should not be exist because it can damage the environment, it also violates the law.

“Moreover, the impact of the activities damages the road, whereas Batur is a tourist area. If the Geopark Batur area is well managed as tourist attractions, it will bring prosperity to the people,” he said.

According to him, the awareness to stop sand mining should be realized from the societies themselves.

In order that people can still earn money for life after the closing of the sand mining, Bali provincial government will disburse some excellent programs such as the Integrated Rural Development Movement (Gerbangsadu), the Regional Credit Guarantee (Jamkrida), Integrated Farming Systems (Simantri) and so on.

Pastika hoped with such kind of helps the sand miners can begin to build a business or switched to farming.

Bali provincial government will also provide scholarships and life skills to the miners’ child so that they can ease the burden of their lives.