The authorities are working on the protection of natural resources, more than 75,000 inhabitants of this region benefit of the operations that are being carried out to counteract the contamination of the water resource and the loss of specimens. During the year, 46 people have already been arrested for this crime.
Troops of the Eighth Brigade of the National Army, in coordination with the Carabineros Police and the Caldas Environmental Corporation (Corpocaldas), arrested six people in flagrante delicto for the crime of illicit exploitation of mining deposits. This year, 46 people have been arrested for the same crime.
In the Frisolina village, in the municipality of Anserma, department of Caldas, soldiers of Infantry Battalion No.22 Batalla de Ayacucho and other authorities intervened the place where gold was extracted illegally, and where about one hectare of vegetation layer had already been hit, in addition to polluting the water sources that flow into the Cauca River, the second most important river in Colombia.
A sinkhole-type mine was found at the site and there was an power generator, an internal combustion motor pump, a demolition hammer, two rudimentary washing gutters, 100 meters of one-inch hose, a cart for material extraction and 15 meters of cable for electricity, materials that would cost more than 11 million pesos, which was put into custody of the authorities.
The illegal exploitation of minerals in these municipalities of the Lower West of Caldas has been carried out without having the legal mining titles stipulated in Law 685 of 2001, of the Mining Code, which has hit not only natural resources, but the well-being and security of the families who live and legally benefit of these water sources.
It is estimated that 210 grams of gold per month would be extracted in these illegal production units, which is equivalent to an average income per sale of 42,000,000 pesos per month. Thus damaging this illegal activity for an approximate monthly of 504,000,000 COP.
With these results a significant reduction of the environmental impact was possible. It should be noted that the value that is invested for the recovery of environmental damage is approximately 100 million pesos and it could take about 8 to 12 years.
Soldiers of the Ayacucho Battalion attached to the Eighth Brigade of the National Army, judicial, governmental and environmental authorities, continue to monitor the mining realities of the Caldas territory, the implementation of alternatives to mitigate risks and counteract all practices of water resource pollution, the loss of plants and human lives.
Source: Press - Fifth Division of the National Army
