FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
Pateh Baldeh
6 November 2009
Villagers in the TDA have been wondering about the impact on sand mining on their environment especially in this era of climate change when rising ocean level and floods are becoming common occurrence. This is why interviews were made with the people at Katong to know their concerns.
An interview with People involved in mining and the drivers of trucks responsible for the transportation of sand from the mining areas, they revealed that they are finding it very difficult to sustain their business due to their movement to different mining areas without proper explanation. According to them mining was taking place in Sambouya, Kachube, Sanyang as well as in Tujereng.
They claim that they were later informed by the Geology department that all these places have been closed and were therefore warned to desist from mining sand in these places and were asked to move to Kartong for a new mining area. According to them even though the mining area in Kartong is too small and the quality of the sand inferior to the other areas, they would have settled for that if they did not notice discriminatory practices in the mining of sand.
They explained that there are some other private vehicles which are given opportunities to continue mining in the areas that they are asked to abandon. They gave the Tujereng mining area as a typical example.
According to them the sand coming from Tujereng is of better quality and is highly demanded by different construction companies and individuals. Those concern claim that there should be equity in the issuing of licences for sand mining; that if they are asked to vacate the Tujereng mining area none should be allowed to use the facility. Others should also vacate the place and join them at Katong.
Editor's Note
Foroyaa will contact the Geology Unit to find out whether they are aware of any sand mining going on in Tujereng and whether they are giving any special treatment to any Sand Mining Company to the detriment of others. We will inform all stakeholders accordingly
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