Gold Mining Affects Farmers In Kutkai Township
By Network Media Group
Friday, June 23, 2023
Gold mining has reportedly polluted a creek that many villagers in Kutkai Township rely on for their source of water.
“We can no longer use the water from Mong Lawng Creek for our farming because it’s so dirty,” a man from Pan Kai, who wished to remain anonymous, told NMG. He says mining upstream is to blame and its also affected the water for many other villages in the area, including Nam Khong, Ner Moon, Loi Kon and Nam Hpetka.
The State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA), which is fighting the military regime in northern Shan State, has allowed miners to extract the precious metal from the creek, villagers say. When NMG asked the armed group’s spokesperson for comment, he didn’t respond.
At the end of May, farmers called the miners to a meeting to negotiate a solution, and when they didn’t show up, they went to the site. “Two SSPP/SSA soldiers guarding the entrance of the gold mining area didn’t let anyone in,” explained a second anonymous source. However, people were able to speak to several workers, he said, who told them they knew nothing and that no senior staff were present.
Lately, the water has gotten so dirty that some farmers have stopped cultivating their fields.
In another area on the Nam Mao Creek, gold mining was stopped after stories were published in the media. The creek’s water is reportedly clean again and residents from Linlai, Ho Kho, Ho Kho Kwet Thit, Ho Kho Kam, Mong Yu, Mong Yu Kwet Thit, Pan Lor, Mangton, Kon Sone, Mang Hawng and Ho Ner Kam can use it.
