Rectifying illegal gold mining activities in Que Phong and Tuong Duong districts
(Dispatch No. 13/CD-UBND dated May 2, 2013 of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee)
Since the beginning of 2013, illegal gold mining activities in Que Phong and Tuong Duong districts have been extremely complicated; at times, thousands of people have set up camps and used illegal mining machines day and night, but have not been promptly corrected or handled by state management agencies; these activities have disrupted security and order in the districts, caused loss of resources, destroyed the environment, destroyed forests, and posed a potential risk of collapse of gold mines and pits, causing loss of life and property.
Up to this point, thanks to the fierce fighting, sweeping and repelling activities of the Provincial Police and local authorities, the above gold mining hotspots have temporarily stabilized. However, the possibility of illegal gold mining activities recurring in the above areas is very high; meanwhile, the local authorities of the district and commune have not had effective measures to rectify and handle the situation; the authorities of some communes still show signs of covering up and loosening management.
To promptly rectify the above situation, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested:
1. Chairman of the People's Committee of districts:Que Phong, Tuong Duong; Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment; Director of the Provincial Police; Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development strictly implement Directive No. 06/2013/CT-UBND dated March 7, 2013 of the Provincial People's Committee on strengthening state management of mineral activities in the province; proactively advise and propose to the Provincial People's Committee solutions to effectively manage gold mineral resources; especially in areas where illegal mining activities are frequently carried out.
2. Chairman of People's Committee of districts: Que Phong, Tuong Duong:
- Direct relevant departments, offices, and People's Committees of communes to organize propaganda and mobilize local people to strictly comply with the State's laws, not to exploit, not to cover up, or assist in illegal gold mining and panning activities; mobilize village elders, village chiefs, households, and residents to participate in the management of mineral activities in the locality.
- Preside and closely coordinate with working groups established by the Provincial People's Committee under Decision No. 163/QD-UBND.NC dated January 14, 2013 to regularly inspect locations of illegal gold mining, develop management plans, and protect areas containing gold ore; level and collapse gold mines and caves to limit the recurrence of illegal mining activities and occupational accidents; strictly handle illegal gold mining activities, make a list of violators to take measures to deter, educate and prevent violations.
- Direct the Chairmen of the People's Committees of relevant communes to seriously implement the state management of mineral activities; establish inspection teams to examine and clarify the responsibilities of the Chairmen of the People's Committees of communes for allowing illegal mineral exploitation activities to occur; suspend the position of Chairmen of the People's Committees of communes who lack a sense of responsibility and cover up violations.
3. Department of Natural Resources and Environment:Take the lead in coordinating with relevant agencies to advise and propose to the Provincial People's Committee measures to effectively and long-term manage gold mines that regularly have illegal mining activities in the province; report to the Provincial People's Committee before May 10, 2013.
4. Provincial Police:Continue to direct professional forces and district police to closely coordinate with the interdisciplinary working group and local authorities to strengthen inspection, detection, prevention and effective combat against all types of crimes and violations of the law in mineral activities.
5. Assign the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development:Urgently direct forest rangers and forest owners to strengthen the protection of forests and forestry land; resolutely prevent mineral exploitation cases that violate forestry laws.
The Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment shall preside over and coordinate with the Provincial Police and relevant agencies to seriously and effectively implement this dispatch and synthesize the situation to report to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.
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