Nömrög fire: government dismisses border-port agency head E. Gantulga and warns border protection chief J. Byambasüren

The Mongolian government today dismissed E. Gantulga, head of the Border Port Authority, and issued a first-stage warning to Border Guard General J. Byambasüren, head of the General Authority for Border Protection, over the fire in the Nömrög strictly protected area. Further measures against other officials will follow once the damage assessment and the working group's findings are complete.

Background

On Monday, Prime Minister N. Uchral ordered that E. Gantulga and B. Gantögs, commander of military unit 0198, be held accountable, and that the role of the telecom company Mobicom be investigated. Earlier coverage: https://www.egov.mn/en/article/prime-minister-uchral-orders-officials-held-accountable-over-nomrog-fire-and-a-probe-into-mobicom

Byambasüren had earlier said that the permit to enter the border zone was issued by the border detachment commander at Mobicom's request.

Satellite mapping shows that 76.4% of the Nömrög reserve burned: https://www.egov.mn/en/article/new-satellite-mapping-shows-764percent-of-the-nomrog-strictly-protected-area-burned

Damage assessment

According to Sh. Batbayar, state secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Mobicom is covering the helicopter costs of the damage assessment team, and Shunkhlai is covering part of the fuel costs. The damage findings are expected by November 6.

On X

Sources: UBN.mn, Ikon.mn