11 February
Water is essential to life on our planet. It is a must for ensuring uncontaminated stream, rivers, and lakes as a prerequisite of sustainable development. Water Pollution is very harmful to humans, animals and water life. Effects can be Catastropic, depending on the kind of chemicals, concentrations of the pollutants, and where there are polluted.
In Myanmar, oil spillage was considered a major cause of river water pollution.
Now, the time comes to consider that major water pollution sources in Myanmar are wastes from industries, agriculture and mining.
The chemical wastes from illegal gold mining in rivers and heavy wastes from industries have polluted our rivers and water sources since decades ago with development of industries and minings.
Heavy metals, which contain many toxic compounds that damage the health aquatic animals and those who eat them, from industrial process can accumulate in nearby lakes and rivers.
Microbial pollutants from sewage often results in infectious diseases that infect aquatic life and terrestrial life thorough drinking water.
Heavy metal pollution is caused when such metals as arsenic, cobolt, copper, cadmium, lead, silver and zinc contained in excavated rock or exposed in an underground mine come in contact with water.
Metals are leached out and carried downstream as water washes over the rock surface.
Chemical agents such as cyanide, mercury or sulphuricacid used by legal and illegal mining industries leak or leach into nearby water resources when they neglect the safety measures for chemicals. These Chemicals can be highly toxic to humans and wildlife.
Myanmar is encouraging investments for Industrial and other sectors by inviting domestic and international Investors. Meanwhile, we are facing considerable challenges on environmental pollution caused by man-made actions.
To curb river water pollution effectively, we need public policies which will protect water resources, and which especially focus on pollution caused by industrial wastes and oil spills, will curb river water pollution effectively.
All stakeholders in the industries are urged to innovate and create sustainable ways of doing business that do not negatively impact the environment. GNLM
