Prague Monitor: Lower house committee backs opponents of shale gas mining

The petition committee of the Czech Chamber of Deputies yesterday said it does not consider the start of shale gas prospecting or extraction in the country suitable in view of their environmental impact, and it asked the Environment Ministry to take steps halting all activities in this respect.

The committee passed the resolution within a public hearing on a petition against shale gas extraction that has been signed by 31,000 people so far.

The prospecting and possible extraction has been opposed by environmentalists, regional governors, town halls and inhabitants of the localities where shale gas deposits are supposed to be.

Several dozen people attended the public hearing in the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of parliament, yesterday.  MORE