Do Luong strengthens rectification of mineral exploitation activities

Strictly handle mineral exploitation units that violate regulations.

Do Luongis a district with rich mineral resources with 18 active sand, stone and soil mines. In recent times, the State management of the exploitation, transportation, gathering and trading of minerals in the area has had many positive changes and has gradually become orderly, meeting the demand for construction materials in the area, contributing significantly to promoting the socio-economic development of the district.

However, the State management of mineral resources still shows limitations: Mineral exploitation in some units does not comply with mine design, land encroachment still occurs, and labor safety is not ensured. Mineral transportation damages some traffic routes.

One of the sand ports in Do Luong district had to return the land due to encroachment on agricultural land to build a sand storage yard. Photo: Hai An

In order to gradually rectify mineral exploitation activities in the area, recently, the People's Committee of Do Luong district has been resolute in directing and implementing many measures to rectify and control mineral exploitation activities to gradually bring them into order. In 2022, the district established an interdisciplinary team to inspect and handle violating mines.

In May 2022, the district's interdisciplinary team inspected the quarry at Len 12 quarry area, Tru Son commune. Through the inspection, it was discovered that this quarry occupied 5,014.6m of production forest land.² for the purpose of building an operator's house, worker's housing, canteen and waste soil collection. The volume of minerals exploited by this unit from January 2021 to January 2022 is 122,719m³Raw rock minerals, exceeding the licensed capacity of 22,719m³corresponding to a rate of 22.7%.

Based on the inspection results, the competent authority issued a decision to handle violations against the 12 Thung compacted stone quarry in Tru Son commune, amounting to 405 million VND for violations of exceeding mining capacity, encroaching on land, and mining against design.

The functional sector has requested this quarry, for the occupied land area used for waste soil collection, to restore the original condition, with a 30-day remediation period. For the occupied land area used for the operation house and workers' canteen, to carry out land allocation and lease procedures in accordance with regulations, with a 18-month remediation period, the unit is required to exploit at the licensed capacity.

Stone mining activities in Do Luong district. Photo: Hai An

Also in 2022, the Interdisciplinary Delegation of the People's Committee of Do Luong district inspected the implementation of land lease and sand mining of Son Ha Construction Materials and Trading Company Limited in Trung Son commune. The inspection showed that this company had encroached. 6,161.2m²Unused land in rural areas for the purpose of mineral gathering, operating houses, warehouses, etc.

This company did not provide complete documents, records, and determine actual mining output, did not compile statistics and inventory reserves over the years, etc. With the above violations, this unit was fined 79 million VND by the authorities and required to restore the encroached land area to its original state.

Mr. Tran Hoang Anh - Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Do Luong district said: In 2022, Do Luong district coordinated with functional agencies to inspect and fine 4 mineral exploitation units with a total amount of over 897 million VND for violations such as illegal exploitation, violations of invoices, encroachment of forest land to build operating houses, housing for workers... Up to this point, the violating units have paid all fines and corrected the violations.

In addition, some sand mines violated regulations such as exploiting beyond capacity, encroaching on agricultural land to make mineral gathering yards, encroaching on unused land to build operating houses... Through inspection and handling, the functional sector required enterprises to temporarily suspend mining activities to immediately overcome risks of labor safety as well as environmental impacts...

Continue to check and post-check the handling of mineral activities.

In 2023, Do Luong district established an interdisciplinary team to inspect compliance with the law in mining, processing, gathering, transporting, trading minerals and environmental protection in the district. The inspection team is led by Mr. Tran Van Hien - Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee and includes members from specialized departments, People's Committees of communes, towns, and related sectors. It is expected that in June 2023, the district interdisciplinary team will inspect sand mines and the province's interdisciplinary team will inspect stone mines in Do Luong district.

Sand mining activities in Do Luong district. Photo: Hai An

Mr. Tran Van Hien - Vice Chairman of Do Luong District People's Committee said: In order to better manage the mineral sector and contribute to socio-economic development, Do Luong District has strengthened the propaganda, dissemination and education of laws on mineral resource protection to villages and hamlets. At the same time, many documents have been issued to direct the protection of unexploited minerals to prevent and handle illegal mineral exploitation activities.

Strengthen inspection, examination, and post-examination of mineral exploitation activities; monitor, urge, and request organizations and individuals engaged in mineral exploitation activities to overcome shortcomings and limitations according to the inspection and examination conclusions of competent State agencies. In particular, direct disciplinary action against local government leaders who engage in illegal mineral exploitation activities.

Traffic police check a heavy truck carrying minerals on route N5, Do Luong district. Photo: Hai An

Inspect organizations and individuals that exploit, gather, transport, and trade construction sand and gravel, causing riverbank erosion, affecting agricultural and forestry land, and violating the protection corridor of irrigation works. Direct the police of communes and towns to closely coordinate with local authorities to effectively prevent, detect, stop, and strictly handle violations of the law in the field of mineral resources, especially illegal exploitation, transportation, gathering, and trading of minerals, causing environmental pollution.

The district will also organize the signing of commitments with organizations and individuals engaged in sand and gravel mining, gathering, and trading activities regarding mining time, not selling or loading wet sand and gravel; not selling minerals to oversized, overloaded vehicles, or vehicles that are not covered according to regulations.

During the process of mineral exploitation, mining units must comply with the basic design, technical design of mining, ensure labor safety, environmental hygiene, and must not exploit beyond the volume. Fully implement the contents of the environmental protection commitment confirmed and approved by competent authorities./.