adminPeter Matambanadzo Senior Reporter
Government has banned the use of chemicals, including mercury and cyanide, in alluvial mining and also outlawed alluvial mining without an Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Certificate.
The ban was announced in a Government Gazette on Friday under Statutory Instrument 92 of 2014.
It comes amid reports of siltation and massive land degradation caused by riverbed alluvial mining, while chemicals used in alluvial mining are also posing serious health threats to humans and animals.
“No person shall, not withstanding that they are in possession of a special grant, conduct alluvial activities or prospecting of alluvial deposit without an Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Certificate issued by the Environmental Management Agency in terms of Section 100 of the Act,” read the Government Gazette.
Government also banned the use of mechanical equipment or motor-powered equipment in alluvial mining.
Mining within 200 metres of river banks or land within 200 metres of the highest flood level of any body of water conserved in a natural or artificially constructed water storage work or stream or any bed banks or course of any river or stream was also forbidden.
The new requirements make it an offence to conduct any alluvial mining activities on land within 200 metres from any wetland.
Government said the prescribed 200- metre distance would not be construed as an express authorisation to carry out alluvial mining in such areas outside the 200 metre perimeter before the granting of an EIA certificate.
“Any person who contravenes this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 14 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both such fine and imprisonment,” Government said
Online Reporter