Illegal mining in Quynh Tan commune (Quynh Luu) is a painful problem.

Ignoring orders to stop operations

For many years now, the already seriously degraded asphalt roads in Hamlet 6 (Quynh Tan Commune, Quynh Luu District) have had to bear the burden of a series of trucks passing back and forth. Especially the road from Hamlet 6 to the neighboring Ngoc Son Commune. These large trucks mostly depart from Thung Buong Slope, and in addition to carrying rocks, the trucks also carry soil for construction site leveling.

The trucks rumble day and night for a long time, as if testing the patience of the people. A year ago, out of frustration, the local people set up barriers in the hope of limiting them somewhat, but they were still helpless. “They run without any specific time, day or night. The road is bad but the trucks still run at high speed, very dangerous. On sunny days the dust flies up, and when it rains the roads are full of deep holes,” said a man in Hamlet 6 who asked to remain anonymous.

Trucks carrying soil weave through the roads in hamlet 6, Quynh Tan commune. Photo: TH

It is worth mentioning that at Thung Buong cliff, there is only one licensed quarry, but the People's Committee of Nghe An province has revoked its license and requested it to stop mining activities for nearly 3 years now. Specifically, in 2009, the Construction and Trading Joint Stock CompanyBinh An was licensed by the People's Committee of Nghe An province to exploit minerals at Thung Buong quarry, hamlet 6, Quynh Tan commune, with an area of ​​8.6 hectares. However, during the mining process, the company did not strictly comply with the planning and mining location as originally designed. When all the soil and rock within the quarry were exploited, the company took advantage of the exploitation and encroachment on the forestry production forest land of adjacent households.

Therefore, on December 24, 2019, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued a decision to revoke and terminate the mineral exploitation license of Binh An Construction and Trading Joint Stock Company. The local government then notified the company to close the mine, prohibit mining in the Thung Buong area, and directed the removal of vehicles such as excavators and trucks from the scene.

A convoy of trucks lined up to enter an illegal mine at Thung Buong escarpment. Photo: TH

However, this company then continued to secretly exploit minerals for sale. Especially since the beginning of 2021. According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam - Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Tan commune, at that time, the government was focusing on preventing the Covid-19 pandemic, preparing for the election of National Assembly and People's Council deputies at all levels... Taking advantage of that, some workers of Binh An Construction and Trading Joint Stock Company negotiated with some households with adjacent production forest land to lower the height of the land plot, secretly transfer it to illegally exploit minerals, and transport it out of the area for consumption. The exploitation mainly took place at night and on holidays (Saturdays and Sundays).

“Although we were very busy with many jobs, in the short period of early 2021, we also inspected and fined many times for illegal mining here. But after each time like that, they still brazenly repeated it,” said the Chairman of the People’s Committee of Quynh Tan Commune, adding that each time they came to inspect and handle the case, the people of this company often did not cooperate, even had a challenging attitude.

The government has put up signs prohibiting mineral exploitation but it has been ineffective. Photo: TH

One example is the inspection on May 10, 2021. Here, the inspection team of the Commune People's Committee led by Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam caught a worker driving an excavator to illegally mine minerals. At the scene at that time, there was also a truck carrying about 10m³The People's Committee of the commune requested the excavator driver and the truck driver to remain at the scene to make a record. However, during the work, the truck driver arbitrarily started the engine, dumped all the soil, and then drove away from the scene, leaving the commune's leadership helpless. As for the excavator, the People's Committee of the commune informed the representative of Binh An Construction and Trading Joint Stock Company, Mr. Le Tien Tinh, to bring the violating vehicle to the People's Committee headquarters to carry out the next steps in accordance with the law, but Mr. Tinh still did not comply.

On March 10, 2022, during a progress inspection of the quarry's reclamation work, a cadastral officer took photos of the scene to provide a basis for reporting. At noon that same day, the officer's house was immediately surrounded by about 10 aggressive young men.

Challenges to local government

After many illegal mining operations were fined by the local authorities, Binh An Construction and Trading Joint Stock Company later established a project to close Thung Buong quarry. This project was approved by the Provincial People's Committee on July 26, 2021. The approval decision clearly stated that the purpose of the mine closure project is to manage and protect unexploited minerals, level, renovate, and bring the mine to a safe state. Restore the environment around the mine area and affected areas, and hand over the mine area to the state for management.

The Provincial People's Committee requested Binh An Construction and Trading Joint Stock Company to complete the reclamation within 12.5 months from July 26, 2021. This includes ensuring the safe mining embankment, no hanging rocks, clearing the surrounding area and the mine area; leveling, planting trees to restore the environment according to the current status...

However, in the past year, the progress of land reclamation at this quarry has been very slow. Meanwhile, according to the people, trucks are constantly coming in and out of the quarry, and machines are still operating loudly. Through the inspection of the People's Committee of Quynh Tan commune, there is only 1 month left for the land reclamation period to end, but the company has only completed about 10% of the work in the approved plan. Therefore, people believe that this enterprise does little land reclamation, but secretly exploits many minerals for sale.

The illegal quarry is located next to the quarry. This area is production forest land, assigned to households for management. Photo: TH

Also in this area, recently another illegal quarry has been formed right next to Thung Buong quarry.

As with the Thung Buong quarry of Binh An Construction and Trading Joint Stock Company, the local government was also challenged by a group of illegal miners at this quarry.

On June 6, when the inspection team arrived, they caught two excavators illegally mining soil along with many trucks at the scene. However, when the inspection team asked the truck driver to stop, the driver still did not comply and drove straight. The inspection team then had to use motorbikes to block the middle of the road before the truck would stop.

Machines openly scoop up illegal minerals. Photo: TH

Faced with the resolute attitude of the commune authorities, the illegal miners responded by having people stand guard at the entrance of the road leading to the mine. When the inspection team or strangers were discovered, the truck drivers dumped all the soil to destroy the evidence and fled the scene, the excavators also moved out of the mine. Also on June 6, the inspection team suddenly "raided", caught the act of mining here, then made a record, temporarily detained 2 excavators. After a short while, this group of people brought another excavator to continue mining vigorously again.

Every month, the People's Committee of Quynh Tan commune regularly reports on illegal mineral exploitation at Thung Buong mine to the People's Committee of Quynh Luu district. On June 24, the People's Committee of Quynh Luu district issued a document on strengthening the inspection and handling of illegal mineral exploitation activities in Quynh Tan commune.

In the document signed by Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Dinh, it is stated that "after inspection and review, the District People's Committee found that recently, the situation of mineral exploitation and transportation in Quynh Tan commune has been very complicated. Subjects have carried out public exploitation activities, challenging local authorities... The exploitation process has caused loss of resources, negatively affected the landscape environment, traffic infrastructure, and caused public outrage".

The inspection team of Quynh Tan commune asked the truck driver transporting soil from the illegal mine to stop, but the driver did not comply and continued driving straight. Photo: TH

The inspection team had to block the truck with motorbikes in the middle of the road. Photo: TH

Therefore, the People's Committee of Quynh Luu district assigned the district police to arrange forces to increase patrols and handle violators according to the provisions of the law. Coordinate with the People's Committee of Quynh Tan commune to inspect and catch illegal mineral exploitation activities... However, according to the leaders of Quynh Tan commune, since then, the Quynh Luu district police have not sent forces to coordinate patrols and handle the situation. Meanwhile, in recent days at this mine, illegal mineral exploitation has continued.

Previously, in a report to the District People's Committee in early June, Quynh Tan Commune also pointed out the local difficulty of having a small force to carry out its duties. The Commune requested the Quynh Luu District Police to arrange a force of about 15 to 20 people to coordinate and handle the matter thoroughly. However, the request of the Commune Government later had no results.

On June 30, when the reporter entered the Thung Buong quarry area, right from the beginning of the road leading to the quarry, there was a young man who was always following closely behind. At the scene, there was no mining activity, but there were still excavators. Here, it showed that the traces of mining were still very new. Many large pine tree stumps belonging to the production forest land were still lying around. The local government also stretched ropes and put up signs prohibiting mineral mining. However, these prohibition signs did not seem to be effective.

According to the Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Tan Commune, the latest illegal mining incident took place in the early morning of June 29. "That day, at around 4 a.m., I received a report from the people about illegal mining activities in this area. I immediately went to the scene with some other commune officials, but when I arrived, the truck driver had already left the scene, and the excavator had also been moved away. The people recorded a video of the mining scene, but because it was night, the image was too blurry, not enough to handle it," said Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam.