Residents in Nong Khio Township in northern Shan State have reported suffering from contaminated water for several years due to waste from the Ngwe Yi Pale Mining Company Limited.

The Ngwe Yi Pale Company, one of the largest sugar, cement and coal producers in Burma, established its business in Nong Khio Township in 2008.

“Contaminated water has killed our animals and destroyed paddy fields,” said Sai Zaw Moe, a resident in Sam Se village, which has been adversely affected by the dirty water. “Many villagers also suffer from serious illnesses,” he claimed.

According to Sai Zaw Moe, they requested that the company solve the problem of releasing hazardous waste from their factory. He said the villagers also reported their concerns to the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) and the National League for Democracy (NLD).

Villagers and company representatives held a meeting at the company’s office on September 17 last year to discuss how to end the contamination.

“Even though we met with their representatives to find a solution, they never did anything,” Sai Zaw Moe said. “On December 8, they started producing sugar again which caused more waste to go into the river.”

Sai Zaw Moe said that the company has not yet taken responsibility for the contaminated water and its impact on the local community.

“Because they didn’t do anything to improve the water, we began posting the pictures of the contamination on our Facebook pages so that the media would know about our suffering,” he explained.

U Kyaw Zin Htwe, who is serving as an office manager with the company, told S.H.A.N on Monday that they had met with local residents at their office to discuss the villagers’ complaints.

“We will definitely help them with what they have asked for. We will improve the quality of the water,” U Kyaw Zin Htwe said.

At the time of reporting, no known steps toward ending the contamination have been taken.

BY SHAN STAFF / Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N)