(Baonghean.vn) - Sand and gravel mining causing riverbank erosion and loss of productive land is a burning issue in Vinh Son commune (Anh Son) and there is currently no effective solution to prevent it.
In recent years, some individuals in Lang Son and Long Son communes have purchased boats and large capacity sand and gravel suction machines to illegally exploit the Lam River. This has caused considerable damage, being the main cause of riverbank erosion and the reduction of agricultural land. This is a pressing issue.
The subjects often choose late at night or noon to dredge sand and gravel. When detecting the authorities, the subjects immediately steer their boats to the middle of the river. Vinh Son commune has sent a written request to the district-level authorities, but so far there has been no effective solution to prevent it.
Below are some photos taken by Nghe An Newspaper reporters about the illegal sand mining situation in Vinh Son:
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| Discovering a motorboat operating close to the river bank, Vinh Son Commune Police decided to approach. When they saw the authorities appear, the subjects immediately weighed anchor and steered the boat away. |
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| When the police force of Vinh Son commune withdrew, the subjects returned and continued to bring the boat close to the shore to exploit. |
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| In another location, there are two boats mining sand close to the river bank, above is a sugarcane plantation. |
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| With high-capacity vacuum cleaners, these two boats blatantly illegally mine sand and gravel in broad daylight. |
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| When detecting the presence of reporters and police of Vinh Son commune, the two boats immediately weighed anchor and turned back to the middle of the river. |
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| The area where two boats were illegally mining sand and gravel is experiencing serious erosion, sweeping away raw materials and crops. The economic damage is immeasurable. |
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| The road along the riverbank that people use to go to work every day is about to be cut off. Previously, the riverbank was about 50 meters from its current location, but now it has been deeply eroded and has formed an arc shape. Every year, Vinh Son loses more than 10 hectares of alluvial land due to erosion. |
Tuong Anh
