Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul has indicated that the Operation Halt team does not take pleasures in burning excavators seized at illegal mining sites.
However, the damage caused by water bodies especially, in the Offin and its enclave, has necessitated the current approach.
Addressing the media on the latest update on the activities of the soldiers, he said the devastation caused in these areas shows people cannot even use water from the water bodies to wash.
He said residents in these areas are forced to purchase water to wash their clothes.
The Minister animals cannot even drink the water because it has been contaminated by galamsey activities.
He warned if we don’t take positive steps as a people, we will lose our water bodies in the next three years.
He said the craving for money by some selfish individuals should deprive the entire nation of its water bodies.
He said the soldiers working are not politicians, have not targeted anyone, but their mandate is to burn all excavators and equipment found in their red zones.
He reiterated that there burning of excavators is a government decision and being implemented by the soldiers.
He warned people making unfounded allegations to make the government pull out the soldiers to stop.
He said no attempt by people would stop the current operations because they will continue to remove all illegal miners from our water bodies.
He further revealed the team counted some 700 excavators being moved out from our reserves by the illegal miners.
Meanwhile, he has indicated that some 49 excavators, 228 changfangs, 87 water pumping machines, 76 wooden structures, 1 container, 7 generators and 3 motors were destroyed.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com
