Unsafe quarrying in Chau Tien (Quy Chau)

More pain

In the file we received, there is a Report dated January 6, 2020 on the results of the inspection and verification of the content of the petition of the people of Bua and Lau villages regarding Tung Cuong Company Limited.quarry blastingaffecting households.

Current status of the roofs of households in Lau village after rocks flying from the quarry of Tung Cuong Company Ltd. broke the tiles. Photo: Ngoc Khanh

In December 2019, Chau Tien Commune People's Committee received a petition from people living near the stone mining area of ​​Tung Cuong Company Limited. Organizing an inspection, the Commune Inspection Team determined that some households had damaged corrugated iron and tile roofs (the enterprise had to repair them); and there were cases of cracked walls, roofs, and misaligned column supports in people's houses and kitchens...

This report also stated the contents of the people's recommendations, such as "Requesting that the Company reduce the amount of explosives when blasting to avoid causing impacts, causing rocks and soil to fly into the houses of people living near the quarry, endangering the lives and property of the people. Regarding the solution to environmental pollution caused by dust when vehicles transport from the quarry, requesting that the Company take measures to remedy and repair the curved road from the main axis to the quarry. Requesting that the Company move the quarry further into the area far from residential areas, or change the quarry location, so as not to cause insecurity for the people...".

Minutes of the scene (above) and report of Chau Tien Commune People's Committee on the incident that occurred on May 31, 2021. Photo: Ha Giang

This report was sent by the Commune People's Committee to the Quy Chau District People's Committee. Afterwards, the Quy Chau District People's Committee conducted an inspection and verification, and on November 25, 2020, the Quy Chau District People's Committee issued Document No. 721/BC-UBND reporting the incident to the Provincial People's Committee and related departments and agencies, and proposed: Proposing to consider suspending the mining activities of Tung Cuong Company Limited at the location of the western mining bank due to its proximity to residential roads and some houses, which poses a high risk of causing labor safety hazards, affecting the lives and activities of people in the surrounding area. Proposing to check the level of vibration and dust pollution caused by mining blasting...

On December 2, 2020, the Provincial People's Committee issued Document No. 8483/UBND-NN directing the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to coordinate with relevant departments and branches to inspect and resolve recommendations and proposals of the People's Committee of Quy Chau district. On December 22, 2020, based on the results of the inspection of the current situation by the Interdisciplinary Working Group, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment issued Document No. 6704/STNMT-KS on resolving recommendations and proposals of the People's Committee of Quy Chau district.

Officials from Chau Tien Commune People's Committee verified the scene at Mrs. Pham Thi Thanh's house in Lau village, where rocks were thrown, breaking tiles and glass on May 31, 2021. Photo: Ngoc Khanh

It stated: “At the time of inspection, the Company had no mining activities. However, the current situation shows that recently, the Company has been mining the western part of the mine area, near residential houses and residential roads (about 100m from the nearest residential house). On the bank of the mining pit, there are still some untreated hanging and slate rocks that could cause unsafe working conditions...; The working group requested the Company to stop mining at this pit and develop a plan to handle the hanging and slate rocks and bring the mine to a safe state...”.

Also in Document No. 6704/STNMT-KS, the Working Group also requested that “… Tung Cuong Company Limited hire a qualified consulting unit to monitor the effects of vibrations and shock waves in the air when blasting to exploit minerals according to the design on people and structures…; Exploitation can only be continued after receiving the results of the monitoring and opinions of the People's Committee of Quy Chau district and specialized agencies…”.

In addition, assign responsibility to the People's Committee of Quy Chau district,Chau Tien communeRegularly monitor and urge Tung Cuong Company Limited to implement the contents pointed out by the Working Group; strictly handle, or recommend handling if exceeding authority if this company intentionally violates...

Directive document of the Provincial People's Committee and Quy Chau District People's Committee. Photo: Ha Giang

Must ensure peace!

After receiving Document No. 58/BC-UBND dated June 1, 2021 of Chau Tien Commune People's Committee, on June 3, 2021, Quy Chau District People's Committee responded with Document No. 651/UBND-TNMT. Here, Quy Chau District People's Committee requested Chau Tien Commune People's Committee to conduct inspection and verification of people's reflections. If violations by Tung Cuong Company Limited are detected, a case file will be prepared to handle the violation according to the regulations that have been decentralized by law (Point d, Clause 2, Article 81 of the 2010 Law on Minerals). If the violation is beyond the authority, the Commune People's Committee is requested to prepare a case file to submit to the competent authority for handling according to regulations.

Quy Chau District People's Committee also sent Document No. 651/UBND-TNMT to Tung Cuong Company Limited. Here, Quy Chau District People's Committee requested Tung Cuong Company Limited to "Correctly, fully and promptly implement the conclusions of the Provincial Interdisciplinary Inspection Team in Official Dispatch No. 6704/STNMT-KS dated December 22, 2020. Particularly for the moong area adjacent to the residential road stretching from landmark No. 4 to No. 5 and No. 1, the Company is requested not to exploit in this area due to its proximity to residential houses and residential roads. Strictly comply with exploitation procedures...".

On June 4, 2021, stone mining activities of Tung Cuong Company Limited were still taking place in the Na Bang escarpment area, less than 100m from residents' houses. Photo: Ha Giang

Faced with the reality in Chau Tien commune, Nghe An Newspaper reporter had a meeting with Mr. Lo Thanh Son - Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Quy Chau district. According to Mr. Son, the incident that happened on May 31, 2021 with the people of Lau village was clearly known to the District People's Committee, because at that time many district officials were inspecting the new rural construction work here.

Mr. Son also affirmed that the Chau Tien commune government must fulfill its responsibility of state management to the people, because the commune has full authority according to the provisions of the law. “The district is very concerned about the incident that happened to the people of Lau village. That is why it urgently issued a document directing the commune People's Committee to resolve it…” - Mr. Lo Thanh Son discussed.

Providing images of the Na Bang rocky area where the people of Lau village reported that there was a mine explosion, Mr. Lo Thanh Son affirmed that this is the area where the provincial Interdisciplinary Inspection Team requested Tung Cuong Company Limited to stop mining activities. “The People's Committee of Chau Tien commune needs to verify and clarify the mining activities of Tung Cuong Company Limited. If they mine in the area that the people reported, it is wrong. In that area, in Document No. 6704/STNMT-KS, due to the reason that it is close to people's houses and roads, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has prohibited the enterprise from mining...”.

Chau Tien Commune People's Committee sealed evidence of rocks thrown from Tung Cuong Company's quarry that broke roof tiles of people's houses. Photo: CSCC

On June 8, 2021, when contacting the representative of Chau Tien Commune People's Committee again, they were told that the commune had worked with Tung Cuong Company Limited. At the meeting, the commune requested Tung Cuong Company Limited to remedy the consequences of the company blasting rocks into 12 households, causing broken tiles, broken glass, and injuries to livestock. In addition, the company was required to strengthen technical control in blasting and quarrying and actively coordinate with local authorities in implementing safety measures, not to repeat violations that affect the lives of local people.

At the same time, the Company is requested to submit a written report to the Commune People's Committee on the remediation of consequences and technical measures to stop the blasting that affects people's lives. Chairman of Chau Tien Commune People's Committee, Mr. Tran Van Hoang also said that according to naked eye observation, the current status of the stone mining location of Tung Cuong Company at Na Bang escarpment is adjacent to the mines, so the inspection of the Commune People's Committee on the boundary and permitted mining scope of Tung Cuong Company is facing difficulties. Therefore, the District People's Committee will be requested to inspect and re-evaluate the scope of mining license of Tung Cuong Company at mine No. 4 and propose to ban mining in the adjacent mine No. 5 to ensure safety for households...

Chau Tien Commune People's Committee and representatives of Tung Cuong Company Limited held a working session on June 8, 2021. Photo: CSCC

It can be seen that the proposal that the Chairman of Chau Tien Commune People's Committee intends to make to Quy Chau District People's Committee is reasonable and necessary. The situation of stone mining blasting by Tung Cuong Company Limited causing negative impacts on people's lives is not the first time. Therefore, Quy Chau District People's Committee needs to assign a specialized department to inspect the mining activities of Tung Cuong Company Limited in the recent past; clearly establish the boundaries of permitted stone mining at Na Bang rock cliff. Only then can Chau Tien Commune authorities and Lau Village people monitor the activities of the enterprise and prevent recurrence of violations!