SAGAING- Locals are worried about collapse as the dumping of waste soil from the gold mining industry increased near the houses and school in Gyokepin village, Homalin Township, Sagaing Region.

The Golden School Company is now operating gold mines near the Basic Education Middle School in Gyokepin village, Homalin Township.

Locals report that the height of the soil dump is increasingly rapidly and may collapse upon the school.

Therefore, parents and other concerned locals signed a petition on November 28th for action against the company.

As a result, the company had temporarily halted but the locals remain worried that the company would resume.

One of the locals said there initially were hills. After the mining began, the hills became big gaping holes which later then become hills again due to the soil dumping from the gold mines.

A local woman said that the dump is now at a height where when the rain comes, it is very likely to collapse on top of people, houses and the school despite some measures by the company to stop it from happening.

“An official from No.2 Mining Department in Homalin Township said that they had no chance to close the company because the company was officially granted to do gold mining industry. But, they urged the company to throw the waste soil away from the houses and school.