Water transport vehicles still illegally dredge sand on Lam River

In January 2018, Nghe An Newspaper published articles with photos and clips reflecting the situation of illegal sand mining taking place rampantly, brazenly both day and night in Hamlet 12, Thanh Tien Commune, causing outrage among local residents.

Sand thieves operate overnight on Lam River

(Baonghean.vn)- Although it has been closed by authorities, the sand gathering site in Thanh Tien commune, Thanh Chuong district is still bustling with activity at night. In many other areas on Lam river, sand bandits are still rampant every night.

On March 6, 2018, Nghe An Newspaper reporters returned to Thanh Tien commune and recorded positive signs. Illegal sand mining here has been stopped, the owners of 2 sand and gravel wharves in hamlet 12, Thanh Tien commune have lowered cranes and cleaned up the sand and gravel. Currently, the Commune People's Committee is making signs prohibiting illegal sand and gravel mining at the 2 wharves, installing concrete stakes and barbed wire bags on the land managed by the Commune People's Committee.

The illegal sand mining dock in hamlet 12, Thanh Tien commune has been stopped. Photo: PV

However, according to the reporter's observation, the cessation of illegal sand mining activities only took place in Thanh Tien commune - the area where Nghe An Newspaper had previously reported on sand bandits.

In the neighboring commune of Thanh Linh, mining still takes place normally in broad daylight without any intervention from authorities. Boats equipped with sand pumping systems still brazenly "gut" the Lam River.

Previously, on December 5, 2017, the Provincial People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 9451/UBND-NC assigning the Department of Transport to preside over and coordinate with the provincial police and the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns to organize a general inspection of water vehicles operating in the area, strictly handling vehicles operating without full registration and inspection according to regulations; vehicles that self-install sand pumping systems that are not in accordance with the design (mandatory dismantling, confiscation of machinery, equipment, suspension of operations, etc.). However, up to now, the direction of the Provincial People's Committee has not been implemented.

Boats equipped with sand pumping systems are still brazenly "gutting" the Lam River. (Photo taken in Thanh Linh commune, Thanh Chuong district)

The working group inspecting compliance with the law on mineral activities (sand and gravel) in Thanh Chuong, Nam Dan, Hung Nguyen districts and Vinh city said that a recent inspection showed that 100% of sand-carrying ships had sand mining equipment installed.

Obviously, the mandatory dismantling of sand pumping systems on transport boats is one of the solutions to help prevent the rampant sand bandits. Therefore, the Department of Transport and related units need to urgently carry out a general inspection of water vehicles operating in the area in accordance with the direction of the Provincial People's Committee.