The Bolivian government has issued a decree declaring a state of emergency in the Huanuni river basin due to toxic waste dumping, local paper El Diario reported.
The polluted river basin, located in Oruro department, is affecting at least 42 agricultural communities in the municipalities of Machacamarca, El Choro and Poopó.
Bolivia’s environment deputy minister Juan Pablo Ramos, who signed the decree, said the decision came after two years of research and meetings with local communities.
Authorities are drawing up a plan to clean up the basin which includes the construction of two dikes in the Cataricagua and Maycapampa areas.
The plan also involves actions to prevent and mitigate the negative environmental impact of nearby mining and urban activities.
Problems include high levels of heavy metals, dumped by local mining firm Huanuni, which are polluting the water used for irrigation, as well as for animal and human consumption.
Source: BNamericas.com [subscription site], 28 Oct 2009
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