MP wants mine dump check

 Lagaip-Porgera MP Nixon Mangape is concerned about tailings from the giant Porgera gold mine in Enga, which he says pollutes the Strickland and Fly rivers.

He raised his concern in a supplementary question to Environment and Conservation Minister John Pundari in Parliament, yesterday.

“In the case of Porgera gold mine, there are no facts,” Mangape said.

“I want the minister to tell the house if the department has in place a system to monitor all the tailings going into the river system.

“In the case of Porgera, we don’t have a system in place to monitor the tailings all the way down to Lake Murray and the Strickland.

“You (department) just rely on the company.”

Pundari concurred with Mangape.   

“The department has to monitor, ensure and oversee environmentally-friendly operations and developers are compliant with regulations,” he said.

“All mining operations around the country have their own environmental scientists and comply with environmental issues of the department.

“From time-to-time, the department does its monitoring that there is compliance out in the operational fields.

“Over the years, the department has been underfunded, but it has not sat back and relaxed in so far as significant projects in the country are concerned. Regardless, the department has been on top in its responsibilities as far as Porgera is concerned, and I ensure that the department is up to the task.”