The district requires the commune to review its responsibilities.

From the investigation on May 24, it was found that the hill area near An Ngai dam, in the communeQuynh Tan(Quynh Luu) is currently experiencing illegal land reclamation activities on a large scale. This shows that the information citizens have reported about this situation, which has been going on for a long time, is well-founded.

On the afternoon of May 24, tree burning and land exploitation were still taking place in Hamlet 6, Quynh Tan. Photo: HT

Working with the representative of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Quynh Luu district on the case of illegal exploitation of forestry land in Quynh Tan commune, the representative of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Quynh Luu district People's Committee confirmed the above incident. "Recently, the District People's Committee also received a report from citizens; through inspection, it was determined that in the Thung Buong area, hamlet 6, Quynh Tan commune, there was a situation ofillegal land exploitationOn May 19, 2021, the District People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 1053/UBND-TNMT requesting the People's Committee of Quynh Tan commune to handle violators and review responsibilities" - an officer of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment said...

In Official Dispatch No. 1053/UBND-TNMT, on May 10, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Quynh Luu district re-inspected the illegal exploitation of land in Thung Buong area, hamlet 6, Quynh Tan commune. Through the inspection, it was determined that there was illegal exploitation of forest land at two locations. Location 1 at forest land plot No. 305, map sheet No. 2 of Mr. Nguyen Dang Dien.

Residents of Hamlet 6, Quynh Tan Commune, set up barriers to prevent large trucks from passing by, reducing the speed of vehicles that cause dust and affect health and life (Photo taken at 3:00 p.m. on May 24). Photo: HT

Here, an excavator, 1 truck (driver and excavator driver were not present) and signs of large-scale land exploitation were discovered. The excavator owner was identified as Mr. Nguyen Dang Cong, a citizen of Hamlet 6, Quynh Tan Commune. The second location was at forestry land plot No. 315, map sheet No. 2 of Mr. Ho Ba Luu. In addition, signs of violations were discovered, the land was dug up unevenly, dug deep into the pine hill..., around the scene there were 2 excavators and several trucks.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment has assigned the People's Committee of Quynh Tan commune to make a record, remove the violating machinery and vehicles from the scene, and at the same time verify and clarify the violation of illegal land exploitation and the act of the forest land user destroying the land for handling according to regulations; requesting a report to the District People's Committee before May 17, 2021.

One of the hills in Hamlet 6, Quynh Tan Commune, was dug up and a large amount of soil was taken. Photo taken at 3:00 p.m. on May 24. Photo: HT

On May 14, 2021, Quynh Luu District People's Committee received Report No. 57/BC-UBND dated May 12, 2021 from Quynh Tan Commune People's Committee. However, the report did not clearly state the contents requested by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment; did not work with the violating citizen; land user; and did not have attached violation handling records.

In addition, the report also revealed additional violators. The People's Committee of Quynh Luu district affirmed: "The citizen's reflection on the illegal exploitation of land for filling in the Thung Buong area is true.

Trucks carrying soil were operating, causing damage to the road and environmental pollution in Hamlet 6, Quynh Tan Commune on the afternoon of May 24. Photo: HT

Illegal land exploitation causes loss of resources, affects the environment, causes public uproar and dissatisfaction. The responsibility belongs to the Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Tan commune for: Being lax in state management of minerals, slow to detect, prevent and handle ineffectively, not making records for handling according to regulations; not properly performing responsibilities and authorities as prescribed in Article 81 of the 2010 Law on Minerals; Not promptly reporting violations in the field of minerals".

At the same time, request: "Quynh Tan Commune People's Committee continues to strictly implement the requirements of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment; invite violators and land users to work, make records of administrative violations, and strictly handle them according to the provisions of law, including violations reported by the Commune People's Committee on May 12, 2021.

Illegal exploitation in any form is strictly prohibited. If illegal exploitation occurs, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Tan commune must take full responsibility before the Chairman of the District People's Committee and before the law. The District Department of Internal Affairs directs and guides the People's Committee of Quynh Tan commune to organize a meeting to review the responsibilities of related individuals for allowing the above violations to occur...".

People in Hamlet 6, Quynh Tan, sprinkle water on the road to reduce dust caused by trucks carrying soil. Photo: HT

Speaking to the representative of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, in Quynh Tan commune, the illegal exploitation of forest land is still happening again, what measures will Quynh Luu district take? The representative immediately called the Chairman of Quynh Tan Commune People's Committee to request the organization of forces to go to the scene to inspect, make a record of the violators, temporarily detain the vehicle... At the same time, he said: "We have determined that on May 28, we will report the issue in Quynh Tan...".