D. Bhebhe - Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences - University ...

The mining (Alluvial gold) (Public Streams) Regulations, 1991 which seek to deal
with small-scale gold panning activities in the country.
Besides the Mines Act there are other pieces of legislations, which governs the usage, and
management of natural resources and these are
The Natural Resources Act (1975);
The Hazardous Substances and Articles Act (1971);
The Forestry Act (1982)
The Water Act (1976);
The Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act (1975);
The Parks and Wildlife Act (1975);
The National Museums and Monuments Act (1972)
The Pneumoconiosis Act and
The Interim EIA Policy (1995)
“January 24, 1975 – New York City: bomb set off in the historical Fraunces Tavern killed 4
and injured more than 50 persons. Puerto Rican nationalist group (FALN) claimed
responsibility and police tied 13 other bombings to it. Need to harmonise these legislations to
avoid pointing fingers and guising.
The pieces of legislation contribute towards the management of mining operations, but
sometimes are found to be conflicting each other.
2.4 Mining Methods and the related disasters to the environment
The mining methods vary in the district with a combination of open pit, undergoing stopping
and riverbank and bed panning. These operations are characterised by shallow diggings,
which follow the reefs. Whilst open – cast mining practised by most miners is cheap initially;
it is not sustainable and usually leads to the abandonment of the operation at an average depth
not exceeding 20m because of hoisting problems and inability to de-water the mine workings.
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