KALAY-Chin State Government Committee said that they did not grant permissions to mineral extraction operations and surveys in Waibula region, border area of Chin State and Sagaing Region, says Soe Htet, a spokesperson of Chin State Government Committee.
“We knew that mineral extractions and surveys weren’t allowed officially. However, the Regional Minister of Agriculture and Forest told me that there have been mineral extractions but they weren given legal permissions. If the Union Government is to grant mineral extractions in Chin State, they will inform us. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Natural Resources in Chin State did not allow any mining projects and surveys. We don’t know which organizations are concerned with the mining projects. The Chin State Government allows no mineral extractions and surveys. We are going to inspect the illegal mining. If we will find it, we are going to take actions against those illegal mining. In Hpakant, Kachin State, the illegal jade mining caused the deadly landslide,” said Soe Htet.
Due to construction of buildings and clearance of lands in Waibula region, a boundary between Chin State and Sagaing Region, the locals sent objection letters to the Kalay District Management Committee. So, the relevant departments had inspected the construction of the buildings.
“A building was built in Sagaing Region aiming to prepare for mineral extractions. That’s why the locals denied the building construction and then they sent an objection letter to the district management committee. In doing so, the management committee together with the ministry of mines and ministry of environmental conservation from Chin State Government Committee inspected the site. Later, they found that some buildings were built at the site. But, no one shows strong documents concerning the buildings to the authorities. The authorities between Chin State government committee and Sagaing Region government committee agreed that no one constructs any buildings at the controversial boundary between Chin State and Sagaing Region. So, the officials from Sagaing Region government committee said that those buildings must be removed,” said Kyaw Thet Win who participated in the inspection tour.
The buildings were constructed in Waibula region, a boundary between Chin State and Sagaing Region by Phoe La Min Thar Thar Company Limited.
