Officials with the Movement United for Rivers toured four soums along the Onon River from January 22 to 29. The group’s Ts.Munkhbayar told our correspondent that the officials visited Batshireet, Binder, Dadal, and Bayan-Adraga soums in Khentii aimag to study the implementation of environmental legislation and meet with local residents.

Under a law banning mining activity in river and forest areas, 1,728 mining licenses are supposed to be cancelled by the Government. But Ts.Munkhbayar said local residents are worried that mining companies will resume work in the spring and that their mining licenses have not been cancelled yet. Also, several mining companies are said to be working along two rivers in Russia that flow into Mongolia. Local residents have sent 97 letters to the Russian president to inform him of the situation. And 81 citizens have also sent their opinions and suggestions to President Ts.Elbegdorj and Prime Minister S.Batbold.

The Government says it has cancelled 242 gold mining licenses so far. The Movement United for Rivers is considering filing a complaint with the Constitution Court demanding that the Government fully implement the law.