PRESIDENT MEETS "RIVERS AND LAKES" MOVEMENT REPS

Ulaanbaatar, /MONTSAME/ President Ts.Elbegdorj received Monday a delegation of the United Movement of Rivers and Lakes (UMRL). The movement requested the State Head to cooperate with the government in four issues.
Firstly, the UMRL wants the President to include rivers and resources of water and forest in the list of the state-protected as special objects, and to estimate size of aftermath and possible hazard from mining exploration. A requests was sounded as well to have the government introduce to the President an implementation course of the law on banning mining extraction and exploration on the river run-off, protection area of water resource and forest, and to submit a report on the implementation of this law to the State Head in accordance with the law on the President of Mongolia.
"Implementing the law has a great importance in protecting environment and nature...But it is more vital to realize this law by regulating interests of gold-diggers. Only administrative measures cannot tackle it," said Elbegdorj. He emphasized that it would be right to resolve the environment protection matters with civil society participation, and said he considers as necessary to tackle the localities' energy issues in ways of creating renewable energy resources because hydroelectric power stations lead to many negative consequences.
B.Khuder
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