Prime Minister Uchral orders officials held accountable over Nomrog fire and a probe into Mobicom

Prime Minister N. Uchral has ordered that officials who failed in their duties over the fire in the Nomrog Strictly Protected Area in Dornod province be held accountable. He also ordered a legal investigation into the activities of Mobicom, UBN and GoGo.mn reported.

The Cabinet had earlier instructed the State Emergency Commission, the ministries of finance, environment and climate change, and justice and home affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency, the National Police Agency and the Dornod governor's office to establish the cause, spread and extent of the fire and to take steps to prevent future fires. On October 26 the Prime Minister met officials to review progress on those instructions.

According to UBN, the Prime Minister instructed Finance Minister Z. Mendsaikhan to hold E. Gantulga, head of the Border Port Administration, accountable. He instructed J. Byambasuren, head of the General Authority for Border Protection, to hold B. Gantogs, commander of border unit 0198, accountable and dismiss him. UBN and GoGo.mn reported that the orders call for both officials to be removed. He also tasked Justice and Home Affairs Minister G. Temuulen with holding accountable those who failed to perform their legal duties. He asked Environment and Climate Change Minister Ts. Sandag-Ochir to have specialist bodies assess the damage to the land, plants, wildlife habitats and the wider environment, and to prepare a restoration plan.

"About 80% of the Nomrog Strictly Protected Area has been hit by the fire. This is not simply a case of land burning. It is a serious matter: Mongolia's pristine nature, rare animals and plants, natural wealth that should be passed on to future generations, has been destroyed. With damage on this scale, no one should escape responsibility," the Prime Minister said. He said the investigation must establish, based on law and evidence, who issued permits, for what purpose people entered the area, who was responsible for fire safety and what was done after the fire broke out. It must also cover Mobicom's activities, which have been linked to lapses in safety and responsibility at the fire site. The government supports foreign investment, he said, but that does not exempt investors from the law, and anyone operating in Mongolia must follow Mongolian law.

At the meeting, Minister Ts. Sandag-Ochir said a working group and specialist experts are working on site. He said machinery can reach about 30% of the burned area, and a team will fly out on October 27 to work in the remaining 70%. The damage will be assessed within the legal deadline for each natural component, including soil, subsoil, plants, animals and air. Forensic experts will join the team so that the damage does not have to be reassessed at the court stage. A criminal case has been opened.

The fire broke out on October 8, and earlier reports said it started while a convoy carrying executives of Mobicom, a KDDI subsidiary, and other officials was travelling through the protected area. News outlets and users widely shared the Prime Minister's decision on X.

Sources: UBN, GoGo.mn