Quy Hop voters propose to handle the situation of mineral exploitation and processing causing water pollution

(Baonghean.vn)- Voters in Quy Hop district reported that mineral exploitation and processing enterprises in the upstream area have directly discharged into rivers and streams, polluting the water source from Nam Ton River to Dinh River, seriously affecting production and people's lives. They requested the province to direct inspection and handling.

The relevant authorities responded to this issue as follows:

- Situation assessment:

Through inspection, monitoring and assessment of the current environmental status in Quy Hop district, it can be seen that currently, natural water sources for some river and stream systems in the district are polluted (mainly turbid water due to suspended sediment), the level of pollution varies depending on the time of year.

There are many causes leading to the above pollution, which are: waste from mining and mineral processing activities of some licensed enterprises and waste from illegal mineral activities (mainly mining and selecting tin ore, sawing and polishing stone tiles), due to prolonged rain and floods causing landslides on hillsides and streams, dragging mud and soil into the natural water environment,...

Dinh River - where illegal mining often occurs. Photo: Archive.

-Inspection and processing work:

In recent years, the Provincial People's Committee has directed the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to closely coordinate with relevant agencies to strengthen inspection and examination of compliance with laws on minerals and environmental protection for licensed enterprises, inspect compliance with laws on environmental protection for mineral processing facilities (using water resources) and inspect and handle illegal mineral exploitation activities in Quy Hop district, creating many positive changes in management work, specifically:

- Organize inspections of compliance with the law in mineral activities for stone mining and processing enterprises in the province; Coordinate with the General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam to inspect compliance with the law in mineral activities for enterprises licensed by the Ministry for mineral activities in the province; Organize inspections of 10 mineral mining, production and processing establishments in Quy Hop district.

Inspection team of mineral exploitation in Quy Hop. Photo: Archive

- The Department of Natural Resources and Environment has strengthened and resolutely implemented the inspection and handling of illegal mineral activities in Quy Hop district, namely: The Director of the Department organized a meeting with the Chairman of the District People's Committee to discuss implementation solutions; Established an interdisciplinary working group to inspect illegal mineral exploitation activities in the district under the direction of the Provincial People's Committee in Official Dispatch No. 6496/UBND-NN dated September 5, 2016,...

- The People's Committee of Quy Hop district established an Inspection Team according to Decision No. 611/QD-UBND dated March 22, 2016 to inspect and handle violations of the law in mineral activities and environmental protection, and at the same time assigned the Quy Hop District Police to organize inspection and handle violations in mineral activities.

Through inspection, violating enterprises were handled, and at the same time, mining enterprises were urged and required to prepare documents to request a license to discharge wastewater into water sources (Up to now, 20 mineral enterprises in the district have been granted licenses by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment according to regulations).

-Solutions:

+ Strengthen inspection and examination of compliance with laws on minerals and environmental protection for licensed organizations, inspect compliance with laws on environmental protection for mineral processing facilities and thoroughly inspect and handle illegal mineral exploitation activities in the district.

+ Effectively manage and supervise enterprises licensed by competent state agencies to discharge wastewater into water sources.

+ Continue to urge and require mineral exploitation and processing enterprises (using water resources) to prepare documents to request a license to discharge wastewater into water sources according to current laws.

Gia Huy

(Synthetic)