LAGAIP-Porgera MP Nixon Mangape says the Porgera gold mine in Enga is just as responsible for polluting the Fly River as the Ok Tedi mine in Western.
He said that outside Parliament yesterday when asked to comment on The National’s front page story yesterday about Environment and Conservation Minister John Pundari admitting that the Fly River “is gone”.
Mangape has been one of the staunchest critics of the Porgera mine, which empties its tailings into the Porgera and Lagaip rivers in Enga, and eventually into Lake Murray, Strickland, and Fly rivers in Western.
“We don’t have government officers on the ground to monitor all the toxins that are discharged from the mine into the river system,” he said.
“The government only gets reports from the mining company (Barrick). I don’t think we are safe.
“Toxins go straight into the river, into the Strickland, into Lake Murray, and all the fish are gone. Our Porgera River is already polluted.”
He said that outside Parliament yesterday when asked to comment on The National’s front page story yesterday about Environment and Conservation Minister John Pundari admitting that the Fly River “is gone”.
Mangape has been one of the staunchest critics of the Porgera mine, which empties its tailings into the Porgera and Lagaip rivers in Enga, and eventually into Lake Murray, Strickland, and Fly rivers in Western.
“We don’t have government officers on the ground to monitor all the toxins that are discharged from the mine into the river system,” he said.
“The government only gets reports from the mining company (Barrick). I don’t think we are safe.
“Toxins go straight into the river, into the Strickland, into Lake Murray, and all the fish are gone. Our Porgera River is already polluted.”