Last week, I had written an article on two Indian rivers called Manu and Deo which is under Endosulfan attack by illegal fishermen. The pesticide, thrown into the river in huge quantity to catch fish, is polluting the river at an alarming speed, resulting in disappearance of marine species and high increase in waterborne diseases.
And now, here is a similar, disturbing trend: use of mercury, acid and cyanide by gold prospectors is fast poisoning one of the most magnificent rivers in Asia: Irrawaddy.
According to local community media reports, in the Kachin state town of Bhamo, gold diggers are using high levels of mercury and cyanide to detonate areas of the river bed. The deadly chemicals have turned the river in dark grey, triggered health problems among locals such as excessive vomiting, stomach pain etc, while badly affecting marine life too.
