Two businesses in Nghe An were fined 1.8 billion VND for exploiting sand beyond the permitted level.
(Baonghean.vn) - For exploiting sand beyond the permitted capacity for two consecutive years, two enterprises in Thanh Chuong and Nam Dan districts were fined a total of 1.8 billion VND. In addition, both were suspended from mineral exploitation for 5.5 months.
The People's Committee of Nghe An province has just issued decisions on administrative sanctions for violations in the field of mineral exploitation in the area. In particular, Lam Son Dai Thanh Cooperative was fined 900 million VND.
This cooperative is located in Lam Son block, Nam Dan town, Nam Dan district, and is licensed to exploit sand on Lam river, passing through Nam Dan district. However, through inspection, this cooperative has exploited riverbed sand exceeding the permitted annual exploitation capacity stated in the Mineral Exploitation License by 100% or more.
Specifically, in 2020, Lam Son Dai Thanh Cooperative exploited 80.8% more than its permitted annual capacity; in 2021, it exceeded 171.6% of its permitted annual capacity. Mitigating circumstances are that Lam Son Dai Thanh Cooperative voluntarily reported, sincerely repented, and actively helped authorities detect and handle administrative violations. However, this cooperative also has aggravating circumstances in that it has violated the permitted annual capacity stated in its mineral exploitation license for 2 consecutive years.
In addition to having to pay a fine of 900 million VND, the Provincial People's Committee also suspended mineral exploitation activities for 5.5 months for Lam Son Dai Thanh Cooperative.
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Lam Son Dai Thanh Cooperative area is licensed to exploit sand on Lam River. Photo: Tien Hung |
During this period, the People's Committee of Nghe An province also imposed an administrative fine of VND900 million on Thanh Chuong Sand, Gravel Exploitation and Transport Joint Stock Company for similar violations. This company is located in Block 1, Thanh Chuong Town, Thanh Chuong District, and is licensed to exploit sand on the Lam River in Thanh Chuong District.
The inspection results showed that the company had exploited river sand and gravel exceeding the permitted annual mining capacity stated in the Mineral Exploitation License by 100% or more. Specifically, in 2020, it exceeded the permitted annual mining capacity by 211.2%; in 2021, it exceeded the permitted annual mining capacity by 208.6%.
This company also has mitigating circumstances such as voluntarily reporting, sincerely repenting; actively helping authorities detect administrative violations, handling administrative violations; and aggravating circumstances such as violating the law by exploiting beyond the permitted annual exploitation capacity stated in the license for 2 consecutive years.
In addition to the fine, the Provincial People's Committee also suspended the mineral exploitation activities of Thanh Chuong Sand, Gravel Exploitation and Transport Joint Stock Company for 5.5 months.
Previously, in September 2022, the People's Committee of Nghe An province decided to administratively sanction Hoang Nguyen Company Limited for similar violations. This company is located in Hung Binh ward (Vinh city), licensed to exploit sand on Lam river from Luu Son commune, Do Luong district, to Cat Van commune, Thanh Chuong district.
Accordingly, this company was fined 300 million VND by the Provincial People's Committee for exploiting more than the permitted annual mining capacity stated in the Mineral Exploitation License. Specifically, the permitted annual sand mining capacity of this company is 23,920 m3However, through inspection, in 2021, this company exploited 30,751.5 m3, exceeding 28.5% of capacity, with excess volume of 6,831 m3.
In addition, the Provincial People's Committee also forced Hoang Nguyen Company Limited to take measures to renovate environmental protection works, overcome environmental pollution, and damage to technical infrastructure caused by over-capacity exploitation. This is not the first time Hoang Nguyen Company Limited has been fined. In June 2022 alone, the company was fined 3 times by the People's Committee of Do Luong district with a total amount of 65 million VND.
Specifically, on June 6, the Do Luong District People's Committee fined the company 30 million VND for not recording data through the weighing station. On June 13, the company was further fined 15 million VND for encroaching on and occupying land. Also on June 13, the Do Luong District People's Committee issued another decision to fine Hoang Nguyen Company Limited 20 million VND for encroaching on agricultural land to make a sand collection site...