Residents slam gold mine over water pollution
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Hundreds sick as group of seven provinces demands DSI probe
REPRESENTATIVES of residents in seven central provinces yesterday filed a complaint with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) calling on the agency to probe a gold mine operation that they allege has released toxins into water sources and caused hundreds of people in Phichit, Phitsanulok and Phetchabun to get sick.
The group also urged Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha to address the problems allegedly stemmed from gold mining.
Submitting a complaint at the Office of the Civil Service Commission, they expressed their objection to anymore ore mining concessions and ore mineral survey licences being issued.
They also want a ban on the signing of memorandums of understanding for mineral surveys on Army land.
Wanpen Phromrangsan, representing the residents and environmental advocates, filed the petition with DSI chief Suwana Suwanjutha via DSI Special Cases Management Centre chief Pol Major Woranan Srilum.
Wanpen alleged residents in Phichit, Phitsanulok and Phetchabun had since 2010 been affected by Akara Resources’ gold mine operation after it released arsenic, manganese and cyanide into public water sources and impacted on the health of scores of people.
Citing recent findings by the Central Institute of Forensic Science and Rangsit University, Wanpen said arsenic was found in residents’ blood samples while water samples had a high level of cyanide.
And despite the Pollution Control Department and related agencies’ discovering that the mine did not meet operating standards |and warned people not to drink underground water or tap water, the problem remained unsolved, she added.
Pranee Hongchantha, a resident in Tambon Tai Muang in Phetchabun’s Wang Pong district, said her blood had a high level of arsenic like her other family members and at least 600 other people in Phichit, Phitsanulok and Phetchabun provines.
Sawang Prap-ngu-leum, of Sara Buri’s Muak Lek district, said he heard that Akara Resources planned to obtain concessions for ore mining in 11 provinces including Sara Buri and Lop Buri.
Sawang said he and other villagers were concerned over the possible impact of these operations might have and wanted the authorities to postponed the expansion.
He said the residents group planned to file objection letters at the Industry Ministry, the Natural Resource and Environment Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office.
Woranan said the gold mine might have violated the Mineral Act and Hazardous Substance Act and the DSI would consider whether to take up this case.
