Dong Tien quarry affects the lives of people in Vinh Hoan village

(Baonghean) -For over 10 years, the activities of Dong Tien quarry in Bong Khe commune, Con Cuong district have affected the daily lives of people in Vinh Hoan village. Every day, nearly 30 households living near this quarry have to endure the vibrations of mine explosions, dust and even broken roof tiles due to flying rocks.

We arrived at Vinh Hoan village, Bong Khe commune on a day in mid-June, where Dong Tien quarry is operating. Mr. Chu Van Viet, Vinh Hoan hamlet, was upset: “My family has lived here for decades. Before this quarry, life was peaceful, the environment was clean, but since Dong Tien quarry started operating, every day we hear the sound of mines exploding, shaking the walls of our houses, and dust flying everywhere. Families who can build solid houses are fine, but families living in level 4 houses all have cracked walls, and some houses even have rocks flying into them, breaking their tiles.” After speaking, Mr. Viet led us to the level 4 house area (behind his family’s solid 2-storey house), where there are horizontal and vertical cracks on the walls, large enough for a finger to fit through.

Following Mr. Nguyen Van Tan (Vinh Hoan Village Chief), we continued to Mr. Phan Van Thanh’s house, the household that lived closest to Dong Tien quarry. The thatched roof house was built quite well. But the walls were all covered with long cracks from top to bottom. Mr. Thanh’s family could not confirm whether the cracks were caused by the aftershocks of the mines or not, but the cracks were getting more and more numerous.

Mr. Tan said: Dong Tien quarry is too close to residential areas, so it has significantly affected the lives of some households in the village. Vinh Hoan village has 200 households, of which more than 30 households live near Dong Tien quarry. Many times, the village has submitted opinions to the People's Council of the commune, district, and province, requesting the relevant authorities to allocate a mining location far from residential areas, but so far the situation has not changed.

Dong Tien quarry operates too close to residential areas.



Mr. Chu Van Viet said these wall cracks were caused by aftershocks from mines.

According to observations, the quarry is only about 100 meters from the residential area. At the time we were present at the quarry site on the morning of June 14, many machines were operating. Mining here has a high risk of accidents because it is exploited from the foot of the mountain up. Mr. Tran Van Dien is the person assigned to directly direct the operation of the quarry. When we asked why the authorities and sectors had issued a document requesting the unit to stop mining for a long time but did not implement it, Mr. Dien replied: "The unit has not received any notice or official dispatch from the authorities and sectors, so the quarry has been operating normally for a long time. Currently, we are still drilling holes to blast and mine rocks."

Referring to Dong Tien stone quarry, Mr. Phan Anh Hung - Deputy Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Con Cuong district said: Implementing Official Dispatch No. 2167/SXD - VLXD dated December 20, 2012 on checking the results of mine renovation, including the construction stone quarry of Dong Tien Construction Materials Stone Quarrying Cooperative.

After many times of checking, urging, reminding, and requesting Dong Tien Construction Materials Stone Mining Cooperative to immediately bring the quarry back to a safe state (mining from top to bottom) in accordance with the direction of the province and the Department of Construction, the Cooperative has not yet done so. The People's Committee of Bong Khe commune and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment have suspended mining and requested the Cooperative to take corrective measures to bring the quarry back to a safe state according to regulations.

On April 8, 2013, an inspection showed that the Cooperative continued to mine from the bottom of the mine instead of cutting down from the top to ensure safety in mining. The Cooperative had many excuses: running out of explosives, cleaning up the mine site.

But in reality, it is an operation that does not comply with the mine design and does not ensure safety. To ensure safety in exploitation and compliance with environmental protection regulations, safe distance from residential areas (because it is too close) during the exploitation process, the People's Committee of Con Cuong district recommends that the Provincial People's Committee, relevant departments and branches revoke the license and have a plan to grant a new mine in another location that is safer and more long-term.

Hoang - Husband