On October 19, Dr. Khin Naing Oo State Hluttaw representative of Belin Township Constituency No. 1, sent an opposition letter to the President and various other respective government departments regarding Rock Well Mining Co., Ltd’s preparation at the forest reserve.

In response to the letter, on October 28, U Ohn Win, minister of the Natural Resource and Environmental Conservation Ministry visited the field work taking place at Kaylatha Mountain and decided to stop the company from preparing the project.

“The union minister came to inspect on that day. The ministry will not let the company proceed and it will face charges if it continues to do so without permission,” said Dr. Min Kyi Win, Mon State’s minister of Natural Resource and Environment Conservation.

Rock Well Mining Co., Ltd is still in the process of applying for a project license for the rock and quarry project on Kaylatha Mount Forest Reserve. The project aims to produce rock viable for road paving. However, although it has not received a license, it has prepared to go ahead with the project.

“It’s a temporary ban. I don’t like that this ban is temporary. This should be done after getting various points of view from different departments and then a permanent ban can be issued. Regardless, we will discuss this issue at Hluttaw and eventually send another letter to the President,” said Dr. Khin Naing Oo.

Kaylatha Mountain is a historic place with heritage listings, and has tens of thousands of people relying on the mountain’s accommodation. Thus, no quarry projects should be launched on Kaylatha Mountain, according the letter to the President.