DOWNSTREAM COMMUNITIES WORRY OVER DE-WATERING PROCESS
The tailings dam at the Gold Ridge mine. Photo credit: Pacific Scoop.
People of Ravu, along the Gold Ridge downstream communities, are concerned over threats of de-watering the Gold Ridge Tailings Dam Storage Facility.
A Timothy Urobo told SIBC News, the process of de-watering the tailings dam poses a threat for the downstream communities.
“We are concerned over the de-watering process that they will carry out at the tailings dam. I did a site visit just recently and found out that it is dangerous for us the downstream communities, especially people who are living along the Metapono river and also the surrounding villages including Ngalimbiu to Balasuna.”
Meanwhile, the Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology Samuel Manetoali has declared a state of disaster over the Gold Ridge area following threats, the Tailings Storage Facility can’t contain the waste anymore.