Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee inspected the subsidence scene in Quy Hop: Putting the safety and stable life of the people first

On May 29, comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, together with leaders of a number of sectors, directly inspected the scene of subsidence, cracked land, houses, constructions, and dry wells in Chau Hong commune and worked with Quy Hop district to come up with solutions.

Attending the meeting were representatives of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Provincial Police, Department of Construction, and North Central Geological Federation.

SHARE WITH PEOPLE'S WORRIES AND ANGER

Before working with Quy Hop district, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung and leaders of departments and branches directly inspected the situation of subsidence, cracked land, houses, constructions, and dry wells in Chau Hong commune. The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also directly visited the tin mining area of ​​Tan Hoang Khang Joint Stock Company.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung directly went to Chau Hong commune to inspect and examine the subsidence and cracking of land, houses and constructions. Photo: Pham Bang

Acknowledging the reality and sharing the concerns and frustrations of the people, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee hopes that people will remain calm and follow the recommendations and instructions of the government to ensure the safety of life and property.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested Quy Hop district and Chau Hong commune to comprehensively assess and accurately record the subsidence and cracking situation in the area, especially in people's houses. From there, organize for families with severe subsidence and unsafe conditions to move to safer places.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung inspects the subsidence situation at a household's house. Photo: Pham Bang

Many houses have cracked floors, walls, and cracks running all over the house. Photo: Pham Bang

When knowing that Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung directly came to the scene to inspect, many people in Chau Hong commune came to express their concerns about the subsidence situation in the area. In that situation, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee organized a meeting and dialogue with the people right at the Hall of the Chau Hong Commune People's Committee.

At the dialogue, people raised many questions and recommendations around the issues: Why have the situation of dry wells and subsidence occurred since 2019 until now, affecting people's lives and activities; although the government and functional agencies have intervened, so far there has been no complete solution, on the contrary, the subsidence situation is getting more and more serious?

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shared the difficulties and concerns of the people. Photo: Pham Bang

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee inspected the cracks at the headquarters of the People's Council and People's Committee of Chau Hong commune. Photo: Pham Bang

In addition, people also raised the question, why have people reported for many years, but mining companies continue to pump groundwater, causing the subsidence to become more and more serious. Many households no longer dare to stay in their homes, and have to move their assets, the elderly, and children to other places. People's lives are disrupted, and people's lives are always in danger. What is the responsibility of the authorities at all levels and of the resource exploitation companies?

At the dialogue, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shared the difficulties and concerns that Chau Hong commune residents have encountered in recent times; and also said that according to the report, the commune and district have received petitions and feedback from residents and have reported to the relevant departments. However, during the handling process, there were many problems in coordination and direction, leading to delays in resolving residents' petitions. The province will clarify the responsibilities of departments and levels.

At Chau Hong commune headquarters, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee directly met and had a dialogue with local people. Photo: Pham Bang

People of Chau Hong commune petitioned the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee. Photo: Pham Bang

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also affirmed that the responsibility to ensure the lives and property of the people belongs to the authorities at all levels. However, there are issues that the authorities have not been able to resolve according to the people's legitimate requests, so in the coming time, the provincial leaders will request the authorities at both levels and the sectors to resolve them as quickly as possible.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee directly answered and discussed questions and recommendations from the people. Photo: Pham Bang

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also requested the Provincial Police to investigate who filled the sinkholes, what the purpose of the filling was, and to provide a clear answer to the people. After the inspection, if it is confirmed that the underground water pumping of Tan Hoang Khang Joint Stock Company caused subsidence and cracks in the land, houses, and constructions, the company will be required to compensate the people, ensuring their legitimate and legal rights. At the same time, continue to direct the suspension of water pumping activities for mineral exploitation by mineral exploitation companies in the area.

232 HOUSEHOLDS HAVE SUNKEN AND CRACKED HOUSES

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung and leaders of departments and branches worked with Quy Hop district. Photo: Pham Bang

On the same afternoon, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung and leaders of departments and branches had a meeting with Quy Hop district to discuss measures to resolve the situation of subsidence, cracked land, constructions, houses, and dry wells in Chau Hong commune.

Chairman of Quy Hop District People's Committee Nguyen Dinh Tung said that Chau Hong commune is a valley, surrounded by mountain ranges, under the mountain range is a system of cat to caves and underground streams. The cat to cave system is full of water, the underground stream system flows underground, at the foot of the mountain, stretching about 25km from Chau Hong commune to Quy Hop town.

Chairman of Quy Hop District People's Committee Nguyen Dinh Tung reported specifically on the subsidence and cracking situation and made many recommendations. Photo: Pham Bang

Quy Hop District Party Secretary Phan Dinh Dat reported more on the district's problems and difficulties. Photo: Pham Bang

In the area, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Provincial People's Committee have licensed 8 white stone and tin mines. However, only Tan Hoang Khang Joint Stock Company exploits underground minerals, pumping underground water hundreds of meters deep so that workers can come into contact with the mined ore seams.

From the end of 2020 to 2021, in Chau Hong commune, subsidence and cracking of land and houses of people occurred. From the beginning of 2022 until now, this phenomenon has spread to the houses of households, agencies, schools of Chau Hong commune and this situation continues to recur. To date, 232 households in Chau Hong commune have experienced subsidence and cracking of land and houses. In addition, 299 wells of people, medical stations, and schools have dried up.

Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Hoang Quoc Viet speaks at the meeting. Photo: Pham Bang

The leaders of the North Central Geological Federation committed to have a report assessing the causes of subsidence and cracking of land, houses, and constructions in Chau Hong commune by July 31, 2022. Photo: Pham Bang

For agricultural land, the subsidence points have an area of ​​about 25-30m2, 1.5-2.5m deep. At residential houses, the cracks extend through the yards, gardens, and houses of many households. Cracks also appear at Hong Tien Secondary School, the Commune Cultural Post Office, and the headquarters of the People's Council and People's Committee of Chau Hong Commune.

At the meeting, leaders of departments and branches gave initial reports related to coordination and implementation of assigned tasks. At the same time, they analyzed, evaluated and proposed a number of measures to resolve the above situation.

DO NOT TRADE PEOPLE'S STABLE LIVES FOR BUSINESS BENEFITS

Concluding the working session, comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assessed that in the recent past, Quy Hop district, Chau Hong commune and other sectors have taken initial steps to handle the issue.

However, frankly speaking, the coordination to handle the situation of subsidence, cracked land, constructions, houses, and dry wells in Chau Hong commune has not been timely. On the other hand, the district and the sectors have not promptly proposed solutions, leading to the situation becoming more complicated and serious, with the risk of safety to people's lives and property being very real.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung emphasized: do not trade off the economic benefits of enterprises for the safety, stability of the people, and environmental safety. Photo: Pham Bang

Quy Hop district, Chau Hong commune and all sectors must look at this situation frankly and accept the responsibility of each level and each sector for this situation. If you had been more determined and proposed solutions sooner, it would certainly not have reached the level it is today. Our responsibility is to care for and protect the people, ensuring that they have a safe and convenient life. But in reality, hundreds of households in Chau Hong commune are very insecure and confused.

Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee

The head of the provincial People's Committee affirmed that the general handling principle is to put the safety and stable life of the people first and foremost; not to trade the safety and stability of the people, the safety of the environment for the economic benefits of the enterprise. The highest goal is to ensure maximum safety of people's lives and property.

Based on the actual inspection, listening to the opinions of the people, the district's reports and the opinions of the sectors, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung concluded that all groundwater pumping and exploitation activities of mineral exploitation enterprises in Chau Hong commune will be suspended. After having an official conclusion on the causes of subsidence, land cracking, houses, constructions, and dry wells, the province will make the next decision.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung directly inspected the underground mining system of Tan Hoang Khang Joint Stock Company. Photo: Pham Bang

To determine the cause of subsidence, landslides, houses, and constructions, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to preside over the establishment of an interdisciplinary inspection team to inspect mineral exploitation activities in Chau Hong commune, especially enterprises that pump groundwater, first of all Tan Hoang Khang Joint Stock Company. During the inspection, if any signs of law violations are detected, they will be transferred to the investigation agency for strict handling in accordance with regulations. This interdisciplinary team must complete the inspection results and report to the Provincial People's Committee before July 31, 2022.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also assigned the Department of Construction to preside over and select a unit to inspect and evaluate the quality of houses and constructions with subsidence and cracking in Chau Hong commune to determine the risk and extent of damage, and on that basis calculate the support plan later. The Department of Agriculture continues to coordinate with Quy Hop district to implement the clean water supply project for Chau Hong commune residents. The provincial police do not allow subjects to incite, affect security and order, and affect the psychology of the people.

According to leaders of Quy Hop district, Tan Hoang Khang Joint Stock Company is the only enterprise in Chau Hong commune that exploits underground minerals, pumping underground water hundreds of meters deep so that workers can come into contact with the mined ore seam. Photo: Pham Bang

Regarding Quy Hop district, comrade Nguyen Duc Trung requested that, first of all, it is necessary to closely follow the locality to direct Chau Hong commune to ensure safety and stability in people's lives and activities, especially psychological and ideological stability. In the immediate future, it is necessary to relocate households in high-risk areas to safe places; determine a resettlement plan for part or all of the affected people.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also requested departments and branches to create favorable conditions for the North Central Geological Federation to carry out the task of assessing the causes, and strive to have an objective and accurate conclusion by July 31, 2022 to assess the causes of subsidence, cracking of land, constructions, houses, and dry wells in Chau Hong commune.

Based on the conclusions of the inspection team chaired by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the conclusions of the North Central Geological Federation, the responsibilities of mineral exploitation enterprises, first of all, Tan Hoang Khang Joint Stock Company, will be clarified. Even after that, considering whether the enterprise operates or not, the enterprise must be responsible for resolving the consequences caused to the people.

At the time of inspection, Tan Hoang Khang Joint Stock Company was temporarily suspending operations and groundwater pumping. Photo: Pham Bang

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also requested Chau Hong commune, in addition to ensuring security and order, to form monitoring teams to monitor the situation of subsidence and cracking to promptly respond and ensure maximum safety for the people. Quy Hop district must strictly handle enterprises that do not comply with the law, and at the same time strengthen strict management of mineral exploitation activities in the area.

"All levels and sectors must focus on implementing tasks quickly and drastically to promptly overcome the situation of subsidence and cracks in land, houses and constructions, and soon ensure a stable life for the people," Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung requested and at the same time thanked the central and local press agencies for promptly reporting the incident and requested to continue to convey objective and honest information about the incident, to contribute to promptly resolving the incident in Chau Hong commune.