By Prince J Musa in Kenema
Residents of Kono-Bendu village in the Penguai chiefdom, Kailahun district have expressed dissatisfaction over the environmental hazards caused by the Chinese mining company, Metal Mineral which started operations in the chiefdom.
Speaking to Politico, the speaker of Kono-Bendu, Mohamed Charles said it was their councilor, Abdul Nduogba and the mining committee at Sandaru that introduced the miners to the community and said they have been approved by the government and that all arrangements and agreements were signed in Sandaru, the headquarter town.
He said the company later invited them to a meeting for the payment of surface rent to the land owners and that the company manager, Ansu Geogra promised them development projects such as the construction of community schools, health center and community center as well as the erecting of street lights and provision of water.
He noted that their concern as a community is the effect of environmental degradation which has led to damage on the bridge that links the village to other communities. The Chief alleged that the said bridge was damaged by the company when transferring their machines to the mining site, an incident he said was reported to the chiefdom mining committee in Sandaru. He said the company promised to repair the bridge but is yet to be fixed.
“We are not happy with the kind of destruction taking place in our village moreso when big trees that stop the wind from causing damage to the community are being put down,’’ he said.
The youths leader in Kono-Bendu village, Joshua Tamba Boima told Politico that they resisted the company’s operation in their community but that they were told they have documents from the government that permit their operation in the chiefdom.
“But the kind of environmental damages occurring now, will be a threat to us in future ’’ he said.
He therefore called on the government to intervene or that the community will one day hold government authorities to account, should they experience any disaster as a result of mining activities.
He however commended the manager of the company for the payment of stipend to the teachers in the primary school, something he said has been a challenge to the community.
The company manager, Anthony Brima Gogra in a telephone interview denied allegations against his company, noting that the bridge is not under any potential threats and that they only diverted the water way to carry out their operation.
“We cannot do our mining without the people experiencing any environmental destruction,’’ Gogra admitted.
He said they have an agreement with the community to reclaim the land at the end of their work and that the government had issued them a mining license for a period of one year. He revealed that projects due the communities will start in three months’ time.
He however stated that the company has started undertaking their cooperate social responsibility to the community such as paying incentives to teachers in primary schools that are not yet approved by government.
He said the community has demanded their dam be developed and for a health center to be established with the requisite facilities.
Copyright © Politico Online (21/07/21)
