Venezuelan government committed to eradicating illegal mining
Posted: 14/05/2010



"The Bolivarian Government is determined to eradicate illegal mining", as reported by Alejandro Hitcher Marvaldi, Minister of Popular Power for the Environment (Minamb). This initiative, known as the Caura Plan "is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of People's Power for Basic Industries and Mining (Mibam) Environmental Nursery Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) and officials of Monitoring and Environmental Control Minamb .

Importantly, also was assigned a public prosecutor to ensure respect for the rights of persons who are engaged in illegal mining in the southern parts of the states of Amazonas, Bolivar and Delta Amacuro.

Other agencies participating in the Plan Caura are the ministries of the People's Defense, Communes, Interior and Justice, Agriculture and Lands, Indigenous Peoples, the governor of Bolivar state and municipal Bolivarian of this entity, under the coordination of the vice presidency.

Three basic actions

The portfolio holder explained that this policy environment includes three key actions: the eradication of illegal mining, conservation and restoration of degraded ecosystems and the dismantling of the gangs of illegal trade in mining products.

For this, the Ministry has three thousand five hundred troops at various points to proceed with the deportation of foreign miners, while the Venezuelans will be removed and may join other activities of social redemption offered by the Bolivarian Government.

These activities raised the conversion claim mining. This initiative will give the miners the opportunity to develop other activities such as agriculture, and thus dignify their work involving the National Land Institute (INTI) and the National Rural Development Institute (INDER).

In a second action, Hitcher said sanitation and cleaning of areas affected by business and human activity that also has damaged the ecosystem and water bodies and lagoons of different watersheds have been affected by hazardous wastes such as mercury (used for the extraction of gold).

He added that similarly, there will be compensation for the land. After being recovered from these areas, these areas will be reforested.

The third measure provides for the dismantling of the illegal trade mafias begin with the destruction of illegal airstrips, used to extract gold pdel country. In this regard, the Minister noted that operations to combat trafficking kingpins gold, plans to create a national company where the State will have total control and environmentally sustainable mining in the area.

Hitcher stressed the importance of making this plan with the accompaniment of the people in the conservation and stewardship of national biodiversity for its exploitation by the present generation and future ones.

People's Power Ministry for the Environment, Press and Communications Office of the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the United States / May 14, 2010

http://venezuela-us.org/es/2010/05/14/gobierno-venezolano-comprometido-con-erradicacion-de-la-mineria-ilegal/