Mekin dam construction site turns into rubbish dump

Minepded has discovered many shortfalls in the implementation of the plan for the environmental and social management of the project last Thursday. "There's a big gap between what was planned on paper and what is done on the ground."

The Minister of the environment, Protection of nature and the sustainable development, Hele Pierre, pointed out to the managers of the company in charge of the execution of the hydroelectric dam of Mekin, last Thursday on the work site, in the southern region that indeed, "the site we visited has piles of unsorted waste stream. There is no traceability in their management and thus measures should be taken to prevent the pollution of the water as bags of cement whose chemical composition is unknown are dumped in these water and are ingested by fish in these water bodies; and we eat these fish".


"On the social front, Minepded noted that there are problems of sanitation in the camps of the workers. Hygiene is unreliable. In case of any outbreak, the camp will be highly affected because of the prevailing situation here."

The company, China National Electric Engineering Corporation (CNEEC) in charge of the execution of the project have therefore been called to answer with respect to the environment and the working conditions of the workers.