 |
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
toubab1020
12237 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Apr 2019 : 00:10:25
|
"This reporter visited the NEA to get more information on the issue. However the Media Communications Officer could not be reached for comment."
No need to worry "Clarification" will come in a few days  
======================================================================
With Madiba Singhateh April 22, 2019
Welcome to another edition of the Environment Column. In Today’s column, we will look into the issue of sand mining and its toll on the environment and the country’s beaches. Among the latest incidents of sand mining is the one taking place at the Gunjur wetland, which is similar to the mining that occurred in Sanyang, Faraba Banta and Kitty.
The ‘Bolonyo Fenyo Wetland Wildlife Reserve is a 320-hectare land area that encompasses mix savannah of different species of plants and shrubs, sanctuary and habitat for birds, and a freshwater lagoon. Birdwatchers claim that some 150 species of birds are spotted every year, and the area is monitored by the Gunjur Environmental Protection and Development Group (GEPDG). However, reports have it that sand is being mined at the wetland reserve.
One Karamo Touray said a Chinese Factory, Golden Lead, is mining in the reserved land, and has seen them put sand mined from the wetland in several bags and take it to the factory, which is located just a few metres from the lagoon.
Badara Bajo, the Director of GEPDG said the area where this particular mining is taking place is within the wetland; adding that it is an area that turtles are very familiar with because it is their breeding place. Bajo said they do not know why Golden Lead is mining sand from the area and whether they have permission to do so and from which authority. He further said this is the second time such an activity is taking place at the site. Bajo said previously, the activity of the Chinese Company went to the extent of destroying mangroves within the wetland.
Bajo said mining sand in the Wetland can cause deforestation and coastal erosion which can have serious environmental impacts on people’s lives.
When this reporter visited the wetland reserve, no sand mining was taking place at the time. When contacted, Bajo said mining stopped when GEPDG started monitoring the activity of the Company. This reporter visited the Golden Lead Factory to get their viewpoint but he was not allowed in. Foroyaa will publish their views whenever they are willing to speak.
In the villages of Sanyang and Kitty:
This reporter visited the community of Sanyang where villagers continue to battle with authorities on the issue of sand mining within the coastal zone. This particular issue however is between the villages of Sanyang and National Environment Agency (NEA).
In their recent meeting, villagers told this reporter that the NEA expressed displeasure with the manner the Village Development Committee (VDC) is allowing mining in the area.
Fafanding Kinteh of the Coastal and Marine Unit of the Agency, said NEA has the mandate to regulate environmental malpractices in country. He warned that participating on such activity can cause Environmental degradation. However villagers indicated to this reporter that VDC Chairperson Lamin Bojang, denied the participation or involvement of villagers in any form of sand mining from the village; that they have always informed the NEA whenever they embark on carrying out such activities on the beach.
Meanwhile in Kitty, Cashew farmers complain of sand miners encroaching on their gardens and lands reserved for gardening. The Cashew farmers who could not hide their anger against these sand miners, said they have complained severally to the authorities but to no avail. Some have already fenced their gardens to avoid encroachment by these miners.
According to the National Environmental Management Act Part VII, the management of coastal zones on the river and wetland areas disallows mining or any other activity that will be detrimental to the environment. The law adds that no person may in relation to the coastal zone, river, tributary and any other wetland area, use, erect, reconstruct, place, alter, extend, remove or demolish any part of any structure in, on, under, or over the sea bed. It also adds that no one is to excavate, drill a tunnel or otherwise disturb or introduce or plant any type of plant whether alien or indigenous, which is likely to have adverse effects on the environment, river, lagoon or wetland.
Ahmed Manjang, a micro biologist who also shed light on the issue, said sand mining is a factor for coastal erosion, adding that the Gambia is below sea level and the sea level is also rising. Manjang said global warming and the melting of the ice in Greenland and Antarctica, is giving rise to the sea level including the Atlantic Ocean. Manjang said the more the sea level rises, the more it reaches land. Manjang said the Gambia has to explore mitigating factors like how to move back the ocean and planting coconuts along the coast line. that the dunes between the Ocean and Land, is meant to stop the Ocean from reaching further inland, noting that if the dunes are excavated, sea water will flow into the gardens at high tide through the river and this will affect the water table. The result is that salt intrusion will affect rice fields and gardens, rendering the area infertile.
Omar Sambou an Environmentalist, said the threat posed by sand mining is made even more critical given the significant rise in global sea levels in coming decades.
He said Government should recognise the local impact of sand mining and mining activities in many localities on the coastal zones. He said enforcement of protection has been problematic and there has been little pressure to stop the practices from local or international environmental groups in the country. He said that in Gunjur, the last sand dune is undergoing destruction, explaining that this should be a protected area between two ecological communities or eco systems and in some cases, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. ‘‘Failure to protect the area can lead to loss of vegetation, loss of gardens from where local women derive their livelihoods, salt water intrusion that can affect the water table, land degradation, and a rise in sea level,” he explained.
This reporter visited the NEA to get more information on the issue. However the Media Communications Officer could not be reached for comment.
http://foroyaa.gm/sand-at-bolonyo-fenyo-reserve-wetland-threatened-by-mining/
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
Edited by - toubab1020 on 23 Apr 2019 00:11:04 |
|
|
toubab1020
12237 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2019 : 15:47:07
|
Oh Dear NO Clarification YET , better think about a replacement for the man responsible for Media info ?
"However the Media Communications Officer could not be reached for comment." |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
 |
|
|
toubab1020
12237 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jun 2019 : 11:13:43
|
This MUST NOT become another Faraba !!
======================================================================
By Hatab Nyang June 19, 2019
Seven youths from Gunjur Sambuya and the satellite areas have mounted a blockade for the trucks not to enter Gunjur Sand mining area commencing after working hours Tuesday, 18th June 2019.
GYA wrote letters endorsed by the VDC and the Alkalo of Gunjur to 7 departments last week complaining about the adverse effect of the sand mining that is taken place in Gunjur Sambuya. They threatened that if they don’t intervene quickly they are going to stop it themselves.
The said mining area has been negotiated and bought from a Clan in Gunjur called Konoto Kabilo by the mining company called Unity Mining.
The complaint of the youths is that the mining has gone off limit. The mines are close to the sea and they are destroying the women’s gardens too and some private properties such as fences.
Musa Manjang the PRO of GYA told Foroyaa the operation has begun on Tuesday evening to make sure that no sand mining to take place in Gunjur Sambuya. He said they will stay at the mining area both day and night until their demands are met. They are expecting youths from Gunjur Sambuya and the satellite areas.
Habby Njie a woman gardener in Sambuyang Village said mining in the area is destroys their gardens, which they rely on for sustenance, including payment of school fees for their children. She said upon the commencement of mining in their vicinity she went to the mining company for negotiations but into no avail as they got no compensation and their lives are right now in a dilemma. She said she went to them many times to seek for compensation but all they said is that they found no trees in her garden. She concluded that the lack of a garden resulted to loss of income while her two kids attending grades 9 and 10 respectively have to stop going to school due to lack of payment of fees.
Aminata Keita daughter of Habby Njie said she had stopped going to school at Brufut Upper Basic Senior Secondary School at grade 10 because of the mining in her mother’s garden without any compensation. She said her mom was paying her school fees from income derived from her garden.
http://foroyaa.gm/youths-blockade-sand-mining-at-gunjur-sambuya/
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
Edited by - toubab1020 on 19 Jun 2019 11:18:06 |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12237 Posts |
Posted - 05 Sep 2019 : 14:55:43
|
"But that will soon be solved.” he assured." You will notice that NO TIMESCALE has been mentioned. (Gambia Angola China Holdings Company (GACH)
" almost a month now and this is due to the creation of a water blockage by the mining company.” (Fatou Sanyang, a rice grower )
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Wednesday, September 04, 2019
Women rice growers at Banko rice fields at Sanyang, Kombo South have raised concern over the ongoing sand mining activities of the Gambia Angola China Holdings Company (GACH), alleging that the company creates water blockage around their rice fields. According to them, this blockade disallows the passing of water in to their rice fields.
Women say the blockade resulted to forming water loge in their rice fields, thus destroying the rice farms.
In an interview with The Point, Fatou Sanyang, a rice grower, said the problem of water loge in their rice field has been one month. She said it had given them a lot of difficulties.
“We have been facing the problem of water loge in our rice fields for almost a month now and this is due to the creation of a water blockage by the mining company.”
The head of Operations at the GACH Mining Company, Kawsu Jatta, said the complaint of water loge destructions on the rice fields by women has already been received by the mining company, adding that the company is also looking at other means of creating water passage through the rice fields.
He stated that the creation of water blockages was done not to intentionally allow water loges in the rice farms. He explained that such water blockages were done in order to allow smooth operation of their mining activities, which he said can be easily done in support of high water flow in case of transferring mining materials to other sites.
“Yes it is true we have received a lot of complaints from women regarding the problem of water loges in their rice fields, and of course we are also looking on other means of avoiding the problem to avoid the destruction of their rice fields.” He admitted.
“The creation of water blockages is mainly done in order not to lose the amount of water we need to navigate our mining equipment to other sites whenever we need to transfer. So this is why the water is not flowing through their rice fields. But that will soon be solved.” he assured.
Author: Yusupha Jobe
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/women-rice-growers-raise-concern-over-sand-mining-activities-at-sanyang |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
© 2005-2024 Nijii |
|
|
|
Sand Mining problem AGAIN.
