The officials of the Mining Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation went on an inspection tour to a 5000-ton coal-fired cement plant project near Aung Thapyay village in Dahattaw village tract, Patheingyi Township, Mandalay Region on October 4.

The residents submitted complaints to the department concerned including the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation and Anti-Corruption Commission in case that the coal-fired cement plant project may bring about impacts on the local community; that it is very close to the village; and that it may explore valuable minerals.

On the subject of the complaints, the officials of the Mining Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation inspected the project.

“The officials of Mining Dept said we come here today to inspect the project because we have complaints from the residents. We inspect whether the project other valuable minerals besides limestone. The officials took stone samples to examine at the laboratory. We conducted them round the places where marble and quartz,” said resident Shwe Ohn.

The Mining Department was to look into the stone samples in the rocky mountains in the area of the project. 

The residents staged a protest against the construction of the coal-fired cement plant and they were charged with Section 19 of Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law. Four residents were sued under Section 22 and 23 of roads and bridges law. Out of four accused, a resident was bailed out and the other three are facing a trial.     

Translated and Edited by Win Htut