The district requested the commune to conduct a review of responsibilities.

The on-site investigation on May 24th revealed that the hilly area near the An Ngãi dam, located within the commune, was the site of the incident.Quynh TanIn Quynh Luu district, large-scale illegal excavation of fill soil is taking place. This indicates that the information citizens have reported about this situation, which has been ongoing for a long time, is well-founded.

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

Working with representatives from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Quynh Luu district regarding the illegal logging incident in Quynh Tan commune, representatives from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of the Quynh Luu District People's Committee confirmed the incident. "Recently, the District People's Committee also received a report from a citizen; after inspection, it was determined that there is illegal logging in the Thung Buong area, Hamlet 6, Quynh Tan commune."illegal land exploitation"On May 19, 2021, the District People's Committee issued Official Letter No. 1053/UBND-TNMT requesting the People's Committee of Quynh Tan commune to handle the violators and conduct a review of their responsibilities," the official from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment said...

According to Official Document No. 1053/UBND-TNMT, on May 10th, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Quynh Luu District conducted a re-inspection of illegal land exploitation in the Thung Buong area, Hamlet 6, Quynh Tan Commune. The inspection confirmed illegal forest land exploitation at two locations. Location 1 is on forest land plot No. 305, map sheet No. 2, belonging to Mr. Nguyen Dang Dien.

Residents of Hamlet 6, Quynh Tan Commune, erected barriers to block large trucks and reduce the speed of vehicles passing through, preventing dust pollution that affects health and daily life (Photo taken at 3 PM on May 24). Photo: HT

Here, an excavator and a truck were found (the driver and excavator operator were absent), along with signs of significant soil excavation. The owner of the excavator was identified as Mr. Nguyen Dang Cong, a resident of Hamlet 6, Quynh Tan Commune. The second location was on forest land plot No. 315, map sheet No. 2, belonging to Mr. Ho Ba Luu. Additionally, signs of violations were found, including uneven excavation of land, deep digging into the pine hill, etc., with two excavators and several trucks surrounding the site.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment has instructed the People's Committee of Quynh Tan commune to draw up a report, remove the violating machinery and equipment from the scene, and verify and clarify the illegal land exploitation and the destruction of forest land by the land user in order to handle the matter according to regulations; a report is required to be submitted to the District People's Committee before May 17, 2021.

One of the hills in Hamlet 6, Quynh Tan Commune, has been extensively excavated and soil extracted. Photo taken at 3 PM on May 24th. Photo: HT

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

In addition, the report also revealed further violations. The People's Committee of Quynh Luu District affirmed: "The citizens' complaints about illegal excavation of fill soil in the Thung Buong area are true."

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

Illegal land exploitation activities have resulted in resource depletion, environmental damage, and public outrage. The Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Tan Commune is responsible for: lax state management of mineral resources, slow detection, ineffective prevention and handling of violations, failure to prepare case files as required; failure to properly fulfill responsibilities and authority as stipulated in Article 81 of the 2010 Mineral Resources Law; and failure to promptly report violations in the field of mineral resources.

At the same time, it is requested: “The People's Committee of Quynh Tan commune shall continue to strictly implement the requirements of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment; invite violating citizens and land users to work, draw up administrative violation reports, and strictly handle them according to the provisions of the law, including cases of violations as reported by the People's Committee of the commune 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 will be held fully responsible before the Chairman of the District People's Committee and before the law. The District Department of Internal Affairs will direct and guide the People's Committee of Quynh Tan Commune to hold a meeting to review the responsibilities of the individuals involved in the aforementioned violations…”.

Residents of Hamlet 6, Quynh Tan, water the road to reduce dust caused by trucks carrying soil. Photo: HT

When asked by the representative from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment what measures the Quỳnh Lưu district would take regarding the continued illegal exploitation of forest land in Quỳnh Tân commune, the representative immediately called the Chairman of the Quỳnh Tân Commune People's Committee, requesting that a force be deployed to the scene to inspect, record violations, and temporarily seize equipment. He also stated, "We have decided to report on the Quỳnh Tân issue on May 28th…"