Illegal land exploitation, authorities 'kick ball' to each other

(Baonghean.vn) - Using the excuse of renovating a mixed garden, a household dug up an entire hill to exploit soil. The soil mine has been operating openly for a long time, but local authorities have been passing the blame to each other.

On November 28, 2017, at the border between Trai Bo hamlet (Yen Hop commune, Quy Hop) and Quynh 2 village (Chau Binh commune, Quy Chau), it was easy to see a land exploitation site located right next to National Highway 48A. Detecting the presence of reporters, trucks were ordered to wait outside, the entrance and exit were sealed.

After the reporter left, it was almost dark. The temporary gate was removed to let cars into the lot.

Returning to the scene, the reporter witnessed a large hill area that had been dug up and was in disarray. Many trucks were lying in the yard waiting to “eat dirt”.

Many trucks are waiting to "eat soil". Photo taken on November 28, 2017.

The soil mining site is a 3-4 year old acacia hill, hidden behind a large house with the purpose of concealing the view of passersby and authorities. According to local people, the soil mining site belongs to Mr. Hieu Huong (from Nghia Dan district).

Knowing the information about land exploitation, Mr. Luong Van Dai - Chairman of Chau Binh Commune People's Committee (Quy Chau) said: Previously, Mr. Hieu Huong's family had submitted a request to renovate the garden and was approved by Yen Hop Commune (Quy Hop). However, when the land was discovered to be illegally sold, Chau Binh Commune authorities suspended the exploitation.

Mr. Dai affirmed that the commune had known about the land exploitation for many months and had sent a team down to make a record requesting the exploitation to stop long ago. However, when the reporter informed him that the exploitation was still going on, Mr. Dai seemed surprised and said that he would send an inspection team down to work with the landowner to handle the matter.

Trucks continue to pour into the mine despite the commune authorities claiming to have suspended the mine. Photo taken on November 28, 2017

According to the leader of Chau Binh commune (Quy Chau district), the land exploitation site is located in the border area between Chau Binh commune (Quy Chau district) and Yen Hop commune (Quy Hop district). For many generations, the administrative boundary has been under the management of Chau Binh commune, but the people living in the area are citizens of Yen Hop commune. The two localities have discussed many times and agreed to let Yen Hop manage it because they are citizens of Yen Hop commune. However, when asked for the minutes of the agreement, the chairman said he was busy in a meeting.

On the same day, talking with Mr. Le Van Thanh - Chairman of Yen Hop commune, he also confirmed that the mine area belongs to the administrative boundary of Chau Binh commune but citizens of Yen Hop commune are living there.

"Mr. Hieu Huong's family submitted an application to renovate the garden and it was confirmed by the commune. However, when the commune discovered that the land was being illegally transported and sold outside the locality, they made a record to suspend and cancel the application to renovate the garden that the commune had previously confirmed," said Mr. Thanh.

Local authorities of the two communes are "kicking the ball" between each other in the exploitation of land in the border area. Photo taken on November 28, 2017

When asked about the responsibility for handling illegal land exploitation, the Chairman of Yen Hop Commune People's Committee said that even though he is a citizen of Yen Hop, the administrative land belongs to Chau Binh Commune, so Chau Binh Commune must take responsibility. If coordination is needed, Yen Hop Commune is ready.

Returning to the land exploitation site, although the tiger trucks still transport the land out of the locality for sale, there is no inspection by the local government and functional agencies. While the two communes are “kicking the ball” of responsibility to each other, the land exploitation site is getting bigger and bigger, causing a great loss of resources.

Ngo Hoang