34 mineral exploitation enterprises were fined more than 500 million VND

(Baonghean.vn) – 34/44 mineral exploitation enterprises were discovered by the provincial interdisciplinary inspection team to have violated environmental protection, exploitation, and labor safety, with fines totaling more than 500 million VND.

From May 22 to June 30, the provincial interdisciplinary inspection team inspected the compliance with the law in mineral exploitation activities of 44 enterprises licensed by the provincial People's Committee. After the inspection, the team drew up administrative violation records for 34 enterprises and assigned the Chairman of the district People's Committee to issue a decision to impose an administrative fine of more than VND 500 million.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Tam - Deputy Chief Inspector of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, head of the interdisciplinary inspection team, said that most of the enterprises inspected by the team had violations, including enterprises that, although their documents and procedures were incomplete, still operated mineral exploitation activities.

The illegal sand and gravel mining situation on Lam River is still complicated. Photo: PB

Specifically, for businesses licensed to exploit sand and gravel, the delegation discovered violations in environmental protection such as not conducting environmental monitoring, not having waste collection pits, especially hazardous waste, and still letting waste such as oil and grease discharge into the environment. Many businesses exploited beyond the licensed boundaries, did not maintain boundary markers, and exploited beyond reserves.

Regarding stone and clay mining enterprises, the delegation discovered that many enterprises were not mining according to approved designs. Some mines violated labor safety regulations such as leaving rocks hanging, not taking immediate measures to remedy risks that could cause labor accidents, and not providing adequate training or education on labor safety for workers. “Many mining units are family businesses with less than 10 employees, so they have not yet established labor regulations and have not paid insurance for workers,” Mr. Tam added.

In particular, the inspection team also discovered that many enterprises, although having been granted mining licenses by the Provincial People's Committee, had not yet paid environmental protection deposits or mineral exploitation rights fees as prescribed. Some enterprises had not yet had decisions on land lease or premises lease to open inland waterway ports but still carried out business and exploitation.

Mr. Tam added that after discovering many violations, the delegation suspended mineral exploitation activities of 21 enterprises, requiring them to correct the violations and complete all required documents and procedures. The delegation assigned the District and Commune People's Committees to supervise the enterprises' remedial work.

Many inland waterway ports are operating but do not have land lease licenses from the Provincial People's Committee. Photo: PB

Through the inspection, the delegation also recommended that the Provincial People's Committee strengthen administrative procedure reform in the issuance of mining and land lease licenses in a quick, simple but legally compliant manner. "The current procedures for granting mineral exploitation licenses are still cumbersome, time-consuming, causing difficulties for businesses as well as State management of minerals," said Mr. Tam.

Previously, implementing Plan No. 92 of the Provincial People's Committee, the Director of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs established an interdisciplinary inspection team including the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Construction, Provincial Police, Fire Police, representatives of the People's Committees of districts and towns to inspect the compliance with the law in the exploitation of construction sand and gravel for 44 enterprises licensed by the Provincial People's Committee. On September 20, the inspection team submitted a report to the Provincial People's Committee, and on September 28, the Provincial People's Committee issued a conclusion.

Nguyen Hung