In a conversation with our
reporter, MP B.Bat-Erdene has blamed Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
D.Zorigt for not seriously trying to implement the law banning mineral
exploration and exploitation in river and forest basins. He said the Government
should have studied the license holding companies’ statement of expenses and
checked their accounts and tax records, and also what rehabilitation work they
have done. There are set procedures to do all this but the Ministry took no
steps after Zorigt had announced in 2010 the cancellation of 254 licenses,
letting the matter rest there. Some MPs are now seeking a repeal of the law.

The MP said they would make fresh
demands for the resignation of Zorigt. He regretted that all politicians had
pledged during the 2008 election that they would protect the country against
natural and environmental degradation but all this has now been forgotten, with
the Government deliberately not implementing a law passed according to its own
action program.