Gems mines in Kachin State ordered to suspend during rainy season

Gems mines in Kachin State ordered to suspend during rainy season
A gems mining site in Kachin State seen in 2018
A gems mining site in Kachin State seen in 2018
Published 14 June 2019
Nilar

Myanmar Gems Enterprise has issued a directive suspending jade mining in Hpakant and Lonekhin gems fields from July 1 to September 30 as waste pit collapses, landslides, human deaths and property and machinery damage usually occur in the rainy season.

The Upper House's committee for natural resources and environmental conservation send a suggestion that a ban should be imposed for the monsoon season so as to prevent unnecessary problems before the gems by-law comes out.  

In the suspension period, gems mining companies are instructed to stop gems mining and production and seeking raw jades in the soil damps.   

Those companies are also instructed to keep mining machinery in their compounds. If they want to keep them in their mining sites, they have to take security measures and to report to the Jade Mining Department (Lonekhin) not later than July 1.

According to authorities, environmental conservation tasks in and around mining sites include use and movement of machinery under the instruction of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation.

Those who fail to abide by instructions will face action in accord with the Myanmar Gems Law.