Mizzima
Jade mining companies are endangering locals’ water supply by depositing waste soil close to a lake where they take their drinking water from, in Sharaw Hka Village, in Hpakant Township, Kachin State.
The proximity of the dumping to the lake has caused locals to worry about potential drinking water shortages during the hot season, according to a Sharaw Hka villager.
They said: “They are now discarding soil very near the lake. If they keep dumping, there could be drinking water difficulties in the summer season.”
The pile of dumped soil already covers three acres to a height of 700 feet. Monks and villagers from Sharaw Hka Village have been actively engaging with companies to discourage further soil dumping, according to locals.
As well as supplying Sharaw Hka Village, the 30-acre lake also supplies drinking water to the Manahmaw Quarter and most of the jade mining companies in the area. It has been providing drinking water to the area for over 30 years. More than 1,000 households made up of over 5,000 people rely on drinking water from the lake.
The dumping of soil in Hpakant by jade mining companies contributes to seasonal floods, according to locals.
Despite ongoing fighting in Hpakant, the jade mining companies in the area have continued with their lucrative operations.
