Violation of environmental laws by mining companies, handling of hazardous waste and development at places that are not meant for such is creating a huge problem for the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), The Enquirer has gathered.

The ministry, with its agencies, is currently bombarded with petitions from various areas on issues about violations of environmental laws.

Communities in mining areas are accusing mining companies of destroying their rivers and water bodies, as well as their farm lands.

At Tema, residents of Community Seven and Community Nine are protesting against development on a green belt area within the communities.

It took the boldness of the sector minister, Mr. Akwasi Oppong-Fosu, to stop the developers on the Community Seven land.

The Enquirer has chanced on four petitions from some mining communities, brooding over how mining activities have destroyed their farm lands source of drinking water.

The communities are Adiza Krom, Adieyie, Mile Seven and Badu Krom, all near Tarkwa in the Western Region.

In the petitions, one that runs through is that their water is polluted to the extent that they are having serious issues with their health.

In the alarming petitions, they said most residents in the communities develop skin rashes after using water in the areas.

On the handling of hazardous wastes, it is abundantly clear that the country is sitting on a time bomb.

Just last week, four people perished in Accra when they attempted to clean a septic tank at the Industrial Area.

It is widely suspected that there were certain harmful chemicals in the tank.

The minister has ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to investigate the issue with the immediate effect.

About a week ago, the EPA issued a deadline of December 15, 2014 for all mining companies to comply with environmental laws and regulations regarding treatment of water from their activities that pollute water bodies.

The ultimatum was issued at a meeting the minister had with officials of the EPA.

President John Mahama and his government has a strong policy on reclamation of degraded lands by miners and decontamination of water bodies as a result of pollution.

Ankobra, Offin and Pra are worst affected water bodies with pollution.

The EPA is to furnish the minister with a report on the ultimatum issued to mining companies after the deadline, which interestingly, elapsed yesterday.

Mr. Oppong-Fosu would not hide the numerous protestations on violation of environmental laws when The Enquirer contacted him over the issue.

“I am going to have an emergency meeting with the top management and the board of the EPA,” he told the paper.

The minister told The Enquirer that he was expecting a full briefing on the directive to the mining companies on the treatment of their waste water.

Sounding so worried, Mr. Oppong-Fosu told The Enquirer that he would seriously engage all agencies under the ministry for serious action.