Local authorities are irresponsible in handling illegal sand and gravel gathering points.

(Baonghean)- After the 2016 Lunar New Year, illegal sand and gravel gathering and trading recurred, especially at the national traffic hub: Yen Xuan railway bridge.

Sand and gravel gathering activities at Yen Xuan bridge area on the morning of February 19, 2016

Repeat violation

Arriving at Yen Xuan bridge at 9am on February 19, on both sides of the corridor, there were 3 sand bridge platforms. Among them, 2 cranes were scooping sand from large iron boats onto the beach.

According to the locals, this is the location where Ms. Le Thi Hung used to gather and trade sand and gravel at Hung Thuy. The gathering and trading of sand and gravel at this site was very comfortable, as if it had never been inspected and suspended by the authorities. At the foot of Yen Xuan bridge, there were 4 sand and gravel trading sites that were suspended, forced to remove machinery and sand and gravel from the site at the end of 2015; however, after a while, 2 sites were still operating secretly; now, they operate openly.

On the afternoon of February 19, the working group of Group 5445 (an inter-sectoral working group established by the Provincial People's Committee to carry out the task of establishing order in the transportation, gathering, and trading of sand and gravel along the Lam River) went to the Yen Xuan bridge area for inspection. At the business wharf of Ms. Le Thi Hung, the activities of lifting sand from boats to the wharf were still taking place. When the inter-sectoral working group arrived, the people operating the sand and gravel cranes left for another place and did not cooperate with the group.

Two sand bridges are scooping sand from the boat to Hung Thuy wharf.

In response to the recurrence of illegal sand and gravel gathering violations in the Yen Xuan bridge area, the working group invited the Department of Industry and Trade of Hung Nguyen district and the People's Committee of Hung Xuan commune to witness and make a record. According to the record made at 2:45 p.m. on February 19: Checking the area adjacent to Yen Xuan bridge, it was found that there were 3 cranes operating to scoop sand from sand boats under Lam river to the wharf. Of which, 2 cranes belonged to Hung Thuy sand wharf; 1 crane belonged to Kieu Dieu company sand wharf.

In fact, it is not only at Yen Xuan bridge that the illegal sand and gravel gathering and trading occurs again. On the way back to Vinh city along the Lam riverside route, we encountered two more sand docks gathering sand and gravel.

One point in Hung Khanh commune, one point at Ben Thuy 2 bridge. Gathering information in Nam Dan and Thanh Chuong districts, it is known that this is a common situation. An officer of the interdisciplinary working group No. 5445 said that although the clean land has been handed over to the local authorities of Hung Nguyen, Nam Dan, Thanh Chuong districts and Vinh city for management, after Tet, the illegal gathering of sand and gravel has recurred.

An illegal sand and gravel gathering point in the Lam River area, in Hung Khanh commune.

Whose responsibility is it?

On December 31, 2015, from the actual inspection of the site, the interdisciplinary working group No. 5445 determined that although Ms. Le Thi Hung had stopped her business and evacuated the sand and gravel from the wharf, there were still some sand cranes that had not been completely dismantled. The group requested Ms. Hung to urgently return the clean site so that the group could hand it over to the Hung Xuan commune government for management. However, at that time, Ms. Hung used the reason of a power outage due to the commune repairing the power line to request a delay in the crane dismantling deadline, but she had already written a commitment to relocate.

However, the fact that two sand cranes were operating openly on February 19 in the Yen Xuan bridge area proves that Ms. Le Thi Hung "ignored" and did not fulfill her commitment to the working group; and, the Hung Xuan commune government was irresponsible in management.

Le Thi Hung Cat Ba crane has not been completely dismantled (photo taken on December 31, 2015)

According to the handover minutes made between Working Group No. 5445 and the authorities of wards and communes, after being handed over the clean land, the authorities of wards and communes must take responsibility, not to let the situation of illegal exploitation, opening of wharves, gathering of sand and gravel recur; and mobilize people to comply with the law on minerals. "If illegal exploitation, opening of wharves, gathering of sand and gravel occurs, the Chairman of the People's Committee of that commune or ward must be responsible to the Chairman of the People's Committee of the district, city and the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province". It is recommended that the leaders of the district and city issue a document directing the Chairmen of the People's Committees of communes and wards to strengthen inspection and strict management after receiving the handover; at the same time, have measures to manage the land after recovery.

Lieutenant Colonel Chu Minh Tien, Deputy Head of the Environmental Police Department, Head of the interdisciplinary working group under Decision No. 5445, said that although there are sanctions according to the provisions of the law, for now, the working group will draw up a record as a reminder. At the same time, the working group has carried out the tasks assigned by the province, inspected and suspended illegal activities and handed over clean land to local authorities and districts and cities. From the recurrence of violations in gathering and trading sand and gravel, we have advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue a document directing the People's Committees of districts, Vinh city and wards and communes to demonstrate their responsibility...".

To prevent illegal sand and gravel gathering and trading from happening again, responsibilities must be determined and strict sanctions must be imposed.

In reality, to ensure the demand for construction sand and gravel of society; jobs for a part of the labor force; production and business activities of enterprises, local budget revenue... it is necessary for relevant agencies to urgently plan inland waterway ports and grant mining licenses. Therefore, enterprises and owners of sand and gravel trading ports that have not ensured the procedures according to the law must absolutely comply. The authorities of Hung Nguyen, Nam Dan, Thanh Chuong districts, Vinh city and local authorities must uphold the sense of responsibility in management work.

Following the activities of the Inter-sectoral Working Group No. 5445, it is affirmed that the first responsibility for the recurrence of illegal sand and gravel gathering and trading lies with the leaders of local authorities. In addition, the responsibility lies with the relevant departments and leaders of districts and cities for their lack of attention, supervision and inspection. Since there are regulations, they must be strictly implemented. Do not, for any reason, "beat the drum and abandon the stick"!

Ha Giang