Democratic Alliance, Mongolian National Green movement have jointly announced a need to stop the “Gold” Programme at the Press Conference held at the Palace of the Democratic Party.

Press Conference organisers have stressed that the programme which started in 1996 has not only not achieved its objectives set at the time but had a negative effect on the environment, health of Mongolian population and has a danger to affect national security. Therefore they have addressed the Government with the demand to discontinue the programme and announced that they will make further demands and will relay their message to the President of Mongolia, Parliament and Government of Mongolia.

Over 70 populated areas have been contaminated and poisoned with the chemicals since the “Gold” programme has started and about 140 private gold exploration companies which provide only 20% of taxes from mining companies are involved in the programme.

The above facts point that the programme is not effective and even damaging to Mongolia. The Press conference organisers have also reminded that the Programme was supposed to create a nature restoration fund which has never been set up. Incomplete economic projections and research on top the the lack of restoration to the nature have resulted in wastelands of caved-in hillsides, heaped debris and mercury poisoned areas.

If the programme will stop now there is still a hope for these to be restored and there will be a chance for Mongolians to have their land back.

mongolia-web.com

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