Immediately initiate digging at the Brüchau mudpit.

Community movement - Immediately initiate digging at the Brüchau mudpit.

The Citizens' Initiative Clean Environment and Energy Altmark is advocating for the immediate excavation of the Polluted Pit Bruchau. This call came from Christfried Lenz of the Citizens' Initiative during a side session of the state parliament in Magdeburg recently.

This ongoing issue has been a concern for quite some time, dating back even to the GDR era. Notably, the pit contained items like metallic mercury and other toxic substances. Reports suggest that the pit is leaking, posing a potential threat to the groundwater. After much consideration, the state parliament unanimously decided in June 2020 that the pit should be excavated. The State Office for Geology and Mining has already given the order for this action, but the extracting company is opposing this decision with a lawsuit.

Hendrik Lange from the Left party remarked, "The state government and the LAGB must do everything in their power to see that the dreaded emptying of the toxic sludge pit starts immediately. It's unacceptable for a company to make profits in natural gas while leaving a nasty legacy for the community."

Daniel Roi of the AFD stressed the immediate necessity of dealing with this threat. The Greens shared a similar sentiment. Deputy Dorothea Frederking argued that the company's plans to dispose of the hazardous materials are in conflict with the official order. In such cases, the authorities should intervene and completely evacuate and deposit the toxins at approved locations.

Economics Minister Sven Schulze from the CDU promised continued monitoring by the LAGB and enforcement measures in case of negligence. By early August, they will provide a detailed report on the current progress in the economic committee, he added, asserting the importance of transparency in this crucial matter.

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1. The call for immediate action on the Polluted Pit Bruchau was also echoed by residents of Saxony-Anhalt, forming a wider citizens' movement pushing for environmental protection in the region.
2. The renewed interest in the Brüchau mudpit issue has brought forth memories of similar environmental issues during the GDR era, with waste disposal sites often becoming hot topics of debate in parliament sessions in Magdeburg.
3. Despite the ongoing legal battle between the extracting company and the State Office for Geology and Mining, a group of environmental activists from Altmark has proposed an alternative solution, suggesting that the waste could be transformed into eco-friendly products, reducing the volume of toxic substances in the process.
4. Following the parliamentary decision and the promise of continuous monitoring by the LAGB, local schools in Magdeburg have initiated educational programs on waste management and environmental conservation, aiming to foster a culture of sustainability among young citizens of Saxony-Anhalt.

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