Villagers told us that dirty water from the mine is seeping into the lake. We decided to see for ourselves, so we rented a pirogue and headed to where the buffer zone is supposed to be on lake Besaroy and lake Ambavarano. Instead, a sandy wall stands not more than five meters from an ancestral burial place and 10 meters from the lake. Ponds of white water have formed in between and one was spilling into the lake. We collected water samples from the seepage and returned to the village.
Around Andrakaraka we spotted a few broken wells. Mr. Gistavy, a 30 year old shop owner and father of two, tells me they were constructed by RioTinto QMM back in 2012. These produced undrinkable murky water and thus were abandoned. Asked where he collects their drinking water from, he pointed out in the direction of the river (between Besaroy and Lanirano), there where he believes it is the cleanest water. We took a sample of his drinking water as well.
The decrease in fish catch has forced the younger generation of Andrakaraka and neighboring villages to look for more profitable alternatives, namely timber and charcoal production. The widely spread Kininy Bonaky trees (Melaleuca Quinquenervia aka Niaouli) are their only choice. Niaouli tree is an invasive species in Madagascar, it is native to Australia. When stressed, it may release as many as 20 million seeds at one time.
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Journal D'un Barbu 