General News
Govt. Announces Closure Of Beaches To Sand Mining
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- Details
- Published on Thursday, 18 October 2012 10:17
- Written by Necus M. Andrews
The Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy has announced the closure of all beaches across the country to sand mining.
Addressing a news conference Wednesday in Monrovia, Lands, Mines and Energy Minister Patrick Sendolo said all beach sand mining activities must be directed to river sand mining.
Minister Sendolo said the initiative is to ensure that Liberians who depend on beach sand mining for livelihood are not displaced.
He indicated that as a means of enforcing the order, all beaches along the Robertsfield highway have already been closed, and the supply of sand there must now come from the river.
He told the news conference that effective October 24, 2012 all beaches along bridges will also be closed.
Minister Sendolo said although the beaches are closed to sand mining and sand will now be mined from river, the process would not be free of challenges and called on those concerned to cooperate.
He noted that there would be some fluctuation in the price of sand at the beginning, but the ministry will put in place appreciate regulatory measures to address the situation.
“We also anticipate that with the growing demand for river sand, there may be some challenges in terms of the effects of sand dredging activities,” he said.
The Lands and Mines Minister said the Ministry was instituting appropriate measures to regulate river sand mining to ensure that it is conducted in full compliance with applicable laws, including environmental laws and regulations.
According to him, the Ministry would ensure that river sand mining is carried out professionally so that the operation does not unduly interfere with the rights of landowners and residents in their communities.
