Completely prevent illegal gold mining along Nam Mo River (Ky Son)

(Baonghean) - Many people still remember the terrible flash flood that occurred in Ky Son and Tuong Duong districts at the end of June 2011. Nearly a year has passed, the consequences of the historic flash flood have not yet been fully overcome, especially the traffic routes and the lives of families whose houses and belongings were swept away. This flash flood was the result of many causes, including the indiscriminate mining of alluvial gold along rivers and streams, causing landslides, blockages and changes in flow. However, currently, illegal gold mining is still occurring along the Nam Mo River in Ky Son district...

Going along National Highway 7A, from Chieu Luu Commune to Huu Kiem Commune (Ky Son), we can easily observe the landslides and devastation on both banks of the Nam Mo River due to illegal gold mining by local people. Previously, alluvial gold mining took place on a large scale by the licensed Hai Long Company Limited. Local people also purchased gold mining machines and equipment, making the security and order situation even more complicated. After the flash flood in June 2011, Hai Long Company withdrew its equipment and machinery from the area, and gold mining along the Nam Mo River was basically stopped.

The state of rocks and soil and landslides caused by gold mining on the Nam Mo River
(Ky Son)

However, recently, people in Chieu Luu and Huu Kiem communes have continued to bring all kinds of vehicles and tools along the Nam Mo River to mine gold using manual methods. The main method is to use hoes and shovels to dig deep into the bank, then transfer the soil to the river to wash. With this type of mining, the first disadvantage is the lack of safety, if not to say it is a constant threat to life. Because when the frog jaw is dug, the geological structure is weak, it can easily cause the tunnel to collapse and the "gold diggers" will face the risk of being buried.

In fact, in early March this year, Ms. Lo Thi Huong in Khe Nam village, Chieu Luu commune died due to a tunnel collapse. This mining method also leads to the risk of landslides on agricultural land and traffic routes when floods come. National Highway 7A has not been repaired due to the consequences of last year's flash flood, and can now be cut off or broken at any time. It is known that Ky Son district has issued regulations prohibiting alluvial gold mining in the area along the Nam Mo river and established working groups to inspect and handle violations. The situation of rampant mining has been basically overcome and rectified. However, taking advantage of the time from late at night to early morning, people still take the opportunity to go to the riverbank area to dig for gold...

To end the above situation, in addition to inspection and handling of violations, authorities at all levels need to step up propaganda about the harmful effects and mobilize people to commit not to illegally mine gold so as not to affect security, order and people's lives.

Cong Kien