Do Parliament Members think the Water Sources are Sufficient in the Gobi Region?

(Translated by Ariungerel)

Nowadays, the meaning of the phrase "water is treasure"  is becoming clearer. Our country is situated far from nearest sea and has less water sources on the ground and underground compared with countries that has enough water sources. Our people range their life in line with water sources, for example: remote area can be utilized only in winter times because running water source is scarce there, only snow is available there. Elders said that they used to use mouthful water to wash their faces and hands, but in the contemporary world, we use many more litters of water for the same reason.

In addition to livestock husbandry, the problem of water uses in the mining activity is also critical. The mining activities use more water compared with other activities. We can see how running water sources shrink in the hands of people who work as artisanal gold miner everywhere in Monglia.

Photo: washing gold in th Ongi river of Ovorkhangai aimag

I remembered one example when local citizens said that the water level of Ulz River is reduced in line with exploitation of gold mining by “Mongol Gazar” company in the Bayandun soum of Dornod aimag. After gold was transported away by the company, then local community with pots began to gather gold left. This artisanal gold mining is partly responsible for the shrinking water source, a branch of Ulz River running behind of Khairkhan mountain of Bayandun soum in Dornod aimag. The same process is observed in Booroljuut valley of Uyanga soum in Ovorkhangai aimag.

We have been seeing how artisanal gold mining along impacts the environment around water sources. The water issues have not been solved yet and we have a lot of questions including: if we start to use huge metal deposits such as Ouytolgoi (copper mining), and Tavantolgoi (copper and cool mining), will we still have sufficient underground water source? Or do we have to import water from other countries? In this case, I am impressed to hear someone who has positive opinion on mining of huge deposits in Mongolia.

I undoubtedly believe that there are not enough baseline data on underground water sources if it is going to be used for mining activity. Data on surface water sources and underground water sources are both limited, and existing data are difficult to use since the purposes of why these data are made are not clear.

Therefore, it is necessary to conduct survey on the water sources in the gobi regions to know if the water sources are enough or not for huge deposits. Before the discussion on tax (how many percent) and the agreement on mining, research of water sources on surface and underground must be done. And then discussion can focus on the results of the research.

While professional people are talking and writing about if the water sources should be used for mining purpose, it is drying up when all treasures are dug up. It is a bad signal and I agreed with it.

There will be a dry desert with no water sources after mining activity, then where can Gobi people move to?

As I was traveling in the most of my country, I saw very few deep drilling wells. That situation reminded me the socialist system, and during that period, why we did not use deep drilling well. In that time, I thought our government’s strategies were right about using water sources. There were good and detailed policies regarding when and where to use water sources.

How many members of our government know anything about water sources before counting money earned from mining?

The herders use only surface water sources such as springs, streams and hand-dug wells at the river bank and they work very environmentally friendly. But their share of positive impact on the environment is never taken into account.