Papua New Guinea's largest mine Ok Tedi Mining Limited has been ordered to stop dumping anymore mine waste and tailings into the Ok Mani, Ok Tedi and Fly River and its tributaries, pending a substantive hearing on the matter in two weeks.
The order was granted by the National Court last week after an application by landowners and beneficiaries from the South Fly District.
Our correspondent Todagia Kelola says the landowners alleged that continued dumping of mine waste has been adversely affecting the lives of people living along the river system.
He says they also claimed a trust fund established for the benefit of the people of Western Province has been depleted at a fast rate without their consent.
"So the National court, apart from stopping the mine from dumping its waste into the river system has also ordered that those funds be frozen and put into the national court registry account. The judge also ordered for an environmental specialist to go into the river system and independently assess the environmental damages and a health specialist will check on the people who have been affected by the pollution of the river."
Todagia Kelola says court action by landowners was only made possible after the government changed an act last year which had earlier prevented landowners from taking action against the mine.
