Mr Alban Bagbin, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, at the weekend noted that surface mining in the Western Region is wrecking havoc on water bodies. Addressing a stakeholders meeting in the water and sanitation sector in Sekondi, he expressed concern about improper environmental sanitation and dumping of toxic waste directly into water bodies in the region. "River Pra has become a beehive of alluvial gold mining and this activity is polluting the raw water source and threatening the operations of Ghana Water Company at the recently completed Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant," Mr Bagbin said. He said areas in the region exposed to serious pollution due to the illegal mining activities are Daboase and Obosumase along the River Pra and Tarkwa around the banks of River Bonsa, posing problems for the water treatment plant, resulting in higher treatment cost. Mr Bagbin appealed to the miners to be circumspect in dealing with water bodies, saying: "It is these same polluted sources that we would have to rely on for water supply." He said in order to restore water bodies to their original status for them to perform their hydrological and hydraulic functions properly, his Ministry has entered into an agreement with a dredging and marine company to among other things remove aquatic weeds that have invaded the water bodies. Mr Bagbin said government with funding from the International Development Authority of the World Bank has scheduled five of the region's treatment plants for rehabilitation under the Urban Water Project, in order to improve water supply to cope with growth and economic expansion. Work on the Axim Water Treatment Plant would cost $ 2,547,690, Aboso Water Treatment Plant; $ 2.465,236, Bogoso Water Treatment Plant; $ 2,229,120, Elubo Water Treatment Plant; $ 1,732,107 and Prestea Water Treatment Plant, $ 2,965,971. Mr Bagbin said contract negotiations for the projects are far advanced for work to begin. He said government is undertaking extensive studies to assess the water resources potential of the region. Mr Bagbin said under the long term investment plan for 2025, major works would be undertaken at the Sekondi-Takoradi Water Supply System and the Essiama Enclave. Source: GNA