Coal dump causes pollution at Cua Con residential, tourism and service project

(Baonghean) - Although the local government has decided to reclaim the land, request the business owner to hand over the site and stop coal gathering activities, the coal gathering site (opposite the National Historical Site of Con Temple, in Quynh Di Commune (Hoang Mai Town) is still operating vigorously, causing environmental pollution, affecting many households and the activities of the Cua Con residential tourism - service project.

On Provincial Road 537 in Quynh Di Ward (Hoang Mai Town), convoys of overloaded coal trucks speeding, causing dust and coal to fall. Ms. Van Thi Luyen in Phu Loi Hamlet, Quynh Di Commune (Hoang Mai Town) lamented: "We bought a house worth over 1 billion VND in the planning area of ​​the Cua Con Residential, Tourism and Service Area project, however, due to pollution from the coal gathering site and coal dust, we had to move to rent a house elsewhere." Ms. Luyen's 2-storey house is quite nice, located within the project area, but the coal gathering site is about 40m away. Mr. Nam's family, one of the households located within the project area, expressed their frustration: "Here, we have to keep our doors and windows locked all day, and we have to clean household items every day because of coal dust. Coal dust makes my two children cough. We request that the authorities take a quick solution to suspend the operation of this unlicensed coal yard so that people in the area can live in peace." Within the project area, there are currently 30 households that have built houses, but every day, every hour, they still have to endure pollution from coal dust. Currently, the project has sold 300 plots of land, however, many households do not dare to build houses.

Coal yard opposite Con temple.

It is known that the Cua Con residential, tourism and service area project is invested by Long Thanh Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company. The total land area within the planning scope is 37 hectares. The structure of functional areas includes: Vocational secondary school, administrative cultural and sports center, residential area, sports field, high-rise buildings, 3-star hotel, commercial center, kindergarten, medical station, etc. This is a newly built residential, tourism and service area with a synchronous technical and social infrastructure system; ensuring to serve the lives of people in the area; exploiting the advantages of location, landscape in front of the Con temple area, organizing festivals, tourism activities and services for visitors to the Con temple and services along the Hoang Mai river. It is known that this coal yard is also included in the overall planning of the Cua Con residential, tourism and service area project. Because there is a coal yard, the investor cannot build a parking lot and a yard to serve the planned Con Temple Festival.

Ms. Nghia in Quang Trung hamlet, Quynh Phuong ward near this area said: Every day, coal grinding machines, coal shoveling machines, and wind blowing coal dust into Con temple and residential areas, we don't know when this illegal coal gathering site will stop operating. Coal dust and coal water also "attack" Phu Loi hamlet, Quynh Di ward.

Through investigation, it is known that in 1999, the People's Committee of Quynh Di Commune, Quynh Luu District (now Quynh Di Ward, Hoang Mai Town) leased 3,000 square meters of land to Phuong Trang Company Limited, contrary to its authority, to build a wharf for business services. This company built this land into a coal transit yard serving Hoang Mai Cement Factory. Every month, large and small coal ships gather thousands of tons of coal from Quang Ninh to transport to Lach Con and then unload it at this yard. According to "The contract signed by Phuong Trang Company Limited from January 8, 1999 to January 8, 2014, required the land to be returned to the commune in its original condition. However, up to now, Phuong Trang Company Limited has not complied with the contract, despite the written notice from Hoang Mai Town People's Committee". In Official Dispatch No. 600/UBND-TNMT on the suspension of coal and other materials gathering activities at the wharf area in Quynh Di Ward. “The Town People's Committee assigned the Quynh Di Ward People's Committee to notify Mr. Mach Duy Hoang to stop gathering coal and other materials at the wharf, dismantle the works, collect materials, and hand over the site. The Quynh Di Ward People's Committee will take over management and not lease or use it for other purposes without the approval of the superiors.”

The giant coal dump opposite Con Temple pollutes the environment every day.

However, up to now, Phuong Trang Company has "ignored" and continued to illegally gather coal in this area. In 2015, Quynh Di Ward People's Committee continued to send a petition for help due to environmental pollution of households around Con Temple area. On June 8, 2015, Hoang Mai Town People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 463 UBND - TNMT "On the strict implementation of the suspension of activities at the coal yard in Con Temple area, Quynh Di Ward" signed by Mr. Nguyen Huu Tuy, Chairman of Hoang Mai Town People's Committee. Hoang Mai Town People's Committee requested Quynh Di Ward People's Committee to strictly implement the directive, immediately suspend activities at the Con Temple coal yard, request Phuong Trang Company to immediately move coal out of the yard area, dismantle the works, if not complied, establish a plan for enforcement according to the law. Handle thoroughly before June 20. Local authorities have continuously issued official dispatches requesting suspension and cessation of operations, but the coal yard is still operating more and more vigorously.

Every day, every hour, the illegal coal gathering site is still bustling with activity, while the government and related sectors have not yet been able to handle it. That affects the lives of people in the surrounding area and the interests of investors as well as polluting the environment of the historical site of Con Temple.

Article and photos:Van Truong