People in the Lake Khuvsgul area
call it the Mother Dalai (sea) and want to make sure that any possible move to
begin extraction work in the Burenkhaan phosphorus deposit does not in any way
harm the ecology of the lake. Prime Minister S. Batbold’s recent visit to the
province renewed speculation that the Government was planning something. The
general attitude of local citizens is not against exploitation of this abundant
deposit if use of appropriate technology guarantees environmental protection,
but they insist that the economic temptations must be tempered with the need to
keep the lake as it is for the next generation.

The Prime Minister assured them that there was no question of any decision
without a feasibility study. The phosphorus deposit is a substantial and also
strategic deposit, but environmental protection was imperative and the
Government has no plans to compromise with it. Mining Burenkhaan will certainly
generate wealth for the nation, but so would properly planned tourism
opportunities in an area where nature could be enjoyed in its pristine glory.
Either way the needs of the local economy will be taken care of.