Failure of the authorities to protect nature after gravel extraction near Ottendorf-Okrilla

One year after a piece of forest near Ottendorf-Okrilla was cleared for gravel extraction, Left Party politician Antonia Mertsching has accused the authorities of serious failings. She told the German Press Agency in Dresden that there had been no progress whatsoever with regard to nature conservation in the area. The authorities were continuing to pursue the interests of the gravel extraction company above all else. "The common good - groundwater protection, species protection, moorland protection - is being treated as secondary. The ministry and the Upper Mining Authority are turning a blind eye, even though the dumping has demonstrably damaged the moors since the 1990s."

"The authorities are stonewalling," the MP also criticized. "Obviously, the real threat to flora and fauna habitats in particular is being covered up and no action is being taken, although this is legally required."

A year ago, the police cleared a piece of forest in the Heidebogen (Heibo) that had been occupied by environmental activists. The area was then cleared. "As long as mining law only serves economic interests and the Mining Authority sees itself as the guardian of the companies, I see no chance for the Heibo. That is why we are also calling for the mining law to be amended: when it comes to mining interests, not only must the interests of the environment and local residents be given much greater consideration, but also recycling cycles and the actual need for raw materials," said Mertsching. On March 7, there will be a hearing in the state parliament on the protection of the moors in the Heidebogen.