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View Full Version : Experts say DR water is under concession to mining companies



NewsWhore
05-29-2012, 01:50 PM
At a time when the nations of the world are alert to the need to preserve their water resources as a priority for ensuring their survival and food security for their populations, the Dominican Republic has granted mining concessions that will affect most of its drinking watersheds. This situation can be verified easily by checking the national hydrographic map with the map of the mining concessions under the National Department of Mining (DGM) that is a matter of serious concern for ecologists who are questioning the placing of such strategic areas for the nation's development under the control of private entities.

Specialists interviewed by Diario Libre go so far as to suggest that it might be illegal for the Director of Mining, Octavio Lopez, to issue permits for mining activities in places where the General Mining Law (Law 146) prohibits such exploitation. There are 30 major hydrographic watersheds or basins in the country (plus another 17 on the coast), including 16 that are the most important, according to the Biodiversity and Natural Resources Atlas of the Dominican Republic 2011. They serve a population of over five million people, supply water to 14 dams and to 88 of the main aqueducts. There are also 50 protected areas along these watersheds, including natural parks, scientific reserves, green belts and wildlife refuges.

www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2012/05/29/i338090_aguas-entre-concesiones-mineras.html (http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2012/05/29/i338090_aguas-entre-concesiones-mineras.html)

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