BARRICK GOLD, the owner of the Porgera mine, has been asked to do more about pollution and alleged human rights abuses associated with the mine.

Attempts by PNG's environmental and land rights activists to meet with Canadian mining company Barrick Gold to raise their concerns have been unsuccessful.

Porgera  activist Jethro Tulin says traditional owners living in the special mine lease area are worried about their health and safety.

He told Radio Australis that Barrick should be helping them to relocate.

"We are being made to live like squatter settlers on our own land," he said.

"We want a proper resettlement program from Barrick. While they are still active they have to put some money back into resettling the indigenous community living within the special mining lease."

Barrick has been accused of dumping tailing and waste water containing high levels of chemicals including arsenic, mercury and cynanide into a river hundreds of people rely on for fishing and for drinking water.

The Porgera gold mine in Enga Province is 95% owned and operated by a Barrick subsidiary and the remainder is owned by the PNG Government.

Source: Australia Network News