The aggrieved residents said that while the Ban Chaung Coal Mine, which was operated by Thai and Myanmar companies, has stopped operations, the coal that left in the area continued to burn, emitting choking black smoke and also polluting the rivers.
“People are suffering from dizziness and vomiting because of the foul smell of the coal smoke,” said a member of the Ta Ka Paw Youth organization.
The statement said residents developed health problems and their farms were destroyed due to the pollution.
The residents have filed a complaint to the Thailand Human Rights Commissions on June 21, but have not received any update from these offices.
“We didn’t hear further information from the Thai investigators. They told us they would contact,” Ma Naw Pi Tha Law, a resident of one of the affected villages and a member of the Tar Ka Paw Youth Association, told The Myanmar Times on Monday.
Myanmar’s Department of Mines also has no plans to conduct immediate inspection on the Ban Chaung Coal Mine, according to the department’s deputy director general U Kyaw Thet.
“These teams conduct inspection at 5 mines a month.