Unregulated placer gold mining raises concerns in GB

Increasingly unregulated placer gold mining operations in the streams and rivers of Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region are raising serious environmental alarms, with authorities warning of severe risks to vital infrastructure, including the Diamer-Bhasha Dam.

Local and multinational companies are actively engaged in extracting gold from riverbeds across GB. However, these activities are reportedly conducted in violation of environmental laws, leading to widespread degradation. The Gilgit-Baltistan Environmental Protection Agency (GBEPA) has observed the use of heavy machinery directly in riverbeds, often near bridges, roads, and settlements. This process results in oil and other pollutants from machinery leaking into the water, alongside untreated wash water and debris discharged without any sedimentation controls.

The GBEPA Director, Khadim Hussain, stated that the issue has escalated in recent years as mining companies fail to comply with environmental regulations. The polluted river water, a source of drinking water for many communities, poses a direct health risk. Furthermore, the construction of protection walls for mining and the dumping of excavated material are altering natural water flows. This diversion increases the risk of river erosion, potentially destabilizing slopes and damaging roads, bridges, infrastructure, and agricultural lands, especially during periods of high river discharge.

Beyond water pollution and erosion, the lack of proper waste disposal and sanitation facilities at project sites creates additional environmental and health hazards. The unchecked expansion of placer gold mining activities presents a significant threat to the fragile ecosystem of Gilgit-Baltistan and the safety of its inhabitants and infrastructure, demanding urgent regulatory attention.

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the issue had become more serious in recent years as placer gold mining companies were not complying with environmental laws.