Gya: Putting the kibosh on careless mining companies

Nine small-scale mining operations in the Konawaruk River have been closed in the last week for breaching regulations regarding the discharge of tailings.

In a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA), the Guyana Geology and Mines Commis-sion (GGMC) head, Commis-sioner Robeson Benn said the operations were closed as a result of unrestrained discharges of heavy silt from their tailings into the nearby environment.

"GGMC is insisting that the discharges from hydraulicking and other mining operations be routed into settling ponds from water which could be recycled for reuse, or discharged after settlement," Benn told GINA.

The Konawaruk River, a tributary of the Essequibo, has seen serious discoloration of its water particularly downstream due to the discharge, the release said.