Gold mining in Orkhon basin asked to stop

Following a recent 15-day visit to the area by a working
group jointly constituted by the State Professional Inspection Agency and the
Ministry of Nature, Environment, and Tourism, all gold mining companies in the
Orkhon river basin have been asked to temporarily suspend extraction work. The
team found the river to be heavily
polluted and also discovered that many of the companies active near several
streams and rivers that flow into the Orkhon and now blamed for causing
substantial surface water pollution have been operating without proper
permission.

Among the major offenders are companies like
Mongol Gazar, Keonarda, Altan Yondoo, Etots, Domogt Sudar, Urnult Sudar and
Kenalkhap. The violations by Mongol Gazar have been found to be so widespread
that the local government has been asked to review these to see if the
company’s license should not be altogether canceled. There are strong demands
from the people for heavy penalties to be imposed on the deliberately careless
companies.