The responsibilities of the head of agency in managing unexploited mineral resources need to be clearly defined.

(Baonghean.vn) - Clearly defining the responsibilities of heads of government at all levels in the management and protection of unexploited mineral resources; strictly handling organizations and individuals engaging in illegal mineral activities. This was the directive of Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Dinh Viet Hong at a meeting this morning (July 10).

Comrade Dinh Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - chaired the conference on protecting unexploited mineral resources. Photo: Van Truong

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Vo, Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, presented the draft plan on protecting unlicensed mineral resources. Nghe An province currently has 150 active mineral mining licenses. However, in recent times, the protection of unexploited mineral resources has revealed many shortcomings. Illegal mining continues to occur in the area, leading to resource depletion, negative impacts on the landscape and environment, and affecting security, order, and the lives of local people.

The main reasons are that sectors and local authorities have not fully fulfilled their assigned responsibilities in managing and protecting unexploited mineral resources; they have not promptly detected and organized forces to resolutely stop illegal mineral exploitation; and the handling of violations has not been strict enough.

In order to rectify the situation and strictly enforce legal regulations in the management and protection of unlicensed mineral resources in the province, the Provincial People's Committee publicly announces the approved mineral resource plan, areas prohibited from mineral activities, areas temporarily prohibited from mineral activities, and areas where no licenses have been granted.

Departments and agencies need to conduct surprise inspections of licensed and illegal mineral mining areas in their respective localities to take timely action. At the district and commune levels, a Mineral Resources Steering Committee should be established, chaired by the Chairman of the People's Committee of the district or commune, to inspect and handle violations within their authority.

Periodically, departments and agencies, in coordination with local authorities, select areas for the exploitation of common construction materials and submit them to the Provincial People's Committee for inclusion in the auction of mineral exploitation rights.

After listening to the presentation of the draft by the leaders of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, leaders of various departments, sectors, and localities offered numerous suggestions related to planning issues, unexploited mineral resources requiring protection, the current state of state management of mineral resources, and specific plans and responsibilities of departments, sectors, and localities.

Sand mining in Nghia Dong (Tan Ky). (Photo: Archival image)

Concluding the conference, Mr. Dinh Viet Hong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, requested: Following the conference to gather opinions on the plan to protect unexploited mineral resources in the province, relevant departments, agencies, and localities should coordinate to develop a suitable plan to protect unlicensed mineral resources.

This emphasizes the need to clearly define the responsibilities of heads of government at all levels in the management and protection of unexploited mineral resources; to strictly punish organizations and individuals engaging in illegal mineral activities; and to establish a coordination mechanism for protecting unexploited mineral resources with relevant localities in border areas to effectively manage and protect unexploited mineral resources and prevent illegal mineral activities.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment monitors, compiles, and reports to the Provincial People's Committee on the implementation situation, and proactively advises and proposes measures to effectively implement the contents of the plan.

Van Truong