(HERALD) Small-scale miners seek to regularise operations
Small-scale miners seek to regularise operationsTHE Environmental Management Agency has received more than 300 environmental impact assessment reports for consideration and approval since Government launched "Operation Chikorokoza Chapera" last year, an official said yesterday.
Environment and Tourism Permanent Secretary Mrs Margaret Sangarwe said the crackdown on illegal mining operations had resulted in an influx of the assessment reports from small scale miners seeking to regularise their operations.
"This shows that when the law is enforced people comply," she said.
During the operation, Government closed down operations of small-scale miners who did not have assessment reports. Mrs Sangarwe said EMA was now struggling to cope with the high number of assessment reports being submitted. Before the crackdown on illegal miners, large mining companies were the only ones submitting environmental impact assessment reports.
Mrs Sangarwe said environmental impact assessment reports were important as they ensured that mining activities were carried out in a planned manner that guarantees sustainable management of the environment.
Government embarked on "Operation Chikorokoza Chapera" last year following rising levels of destruction on the environment due to small-scale mining operations.
So far, more than 2 000 illegal gold panners have been arrested under the operation and more than four kilogrammes of gold recovered. Apart from damaging the environment, the small-scale miners were also not delivering their gold to Fidelity Printers’ purchasing points near them.
Mrs Sangarwe said it would be difficult for Government to rehabilitate the damaged environment because it did not have funds for that purpose. — New Ziana.
posted by MrK @ 5:20 PM
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