Tan Ky prevents illegal mining

Timely prevention of illegal sand mining

Recently, from people's feedback, there was a situation of some subjects illegally exploiting sand on Con River, through Lang Rao hamlet, Tan Huong commune, Tan Ky district People's Committee directed Tan Huong commune to inspect and handle it thoroughly.

Tan Huong commune authorities inspect and handle a sand mining site in Lang Rao hamlet. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Le Duc Thuyen - Chairman of Tan Huong Commune People's Committee said: Con River flows through the commune for nearly 5 km, of which the section passing through Lang Rao hamlet has a large amount of sand reserves. Therefore, in 2020, the province allowed 1 enterprise to explore, but so far it has not been licensed, so no enterprise has come to exploit. However, through inspection work from the beginning of March 2022 until now, it shows that some people in the commune use small capacity vacuum cleaners to exploit sand with a volume of about 10 m3/day and use farm vehicles and buffalo carts to transport sand from the river.

Accordingly, the commune identified 5 cases of people in the commune violating the law.illegal sand miningTo prevent illegal sand mining from continuing, the Commune People's Committee invited 5 households to sign a commitment not to violate the law. Since then, there has been no illegal sand mining on the Con River flowing through Tan Huong Commune.

Small, rudimentary tools used to pump sand left by people in the Lang Rao area, Tan Huong commune. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Phan Huy H. - one of the households who just signed a commitment with the Tan Huong commune authorities not to illegally exploit sand said: Previously, the family used a tractor to transport sand from the Con River to sell to local people to build houses, outbuildings... with a volume of several cubic meters per day. But since the commune discovered it, the family has signed a commitment not to violate it again.

On May 4, 2022, we were present at the riverbank area of ​​Lang Rao hamlet, Tan Huong commune, witnessing the phenomenon of people mining sand under the riverbed. However, the level of exploitation is small-scale, the sand mining equipment left at the scene is a few small sand suction machines. On the shore appeared a number of sand piles with a volume of 5 - 10 m3.

People in Lang Rao hamlet said that in the past, there were some small-scale sand miners, but for the past month, there has been no sound of sand extraction machines under the riverbed. They hope that the local government will regularly inspect and handle illegal sand mining to prevent landslides and affect people's production land.

Strengthening management

Con River flows through the areaTan Ky districtabout 60 km long, depositing thousands of cubic meters of sand and gravel minerals every year. Sand and gravel in Tan Ky district are of high value in the construction of infrastructure projects, because the grains are beautiful and clean. Therefore, in Tan Ky district, there are currently 16 mining sites licensed by the province for businesses to exploit, each year exploiting an estimated 300,000 - 400,000 cubic meters. Because of such abundant potential for sand and gravel, illegal sand mining and other violations are likely to occur every year in the district if local authorities loosen management.

A pile of sand transported by Tan Huong commune residents from the Con River. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh - Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Tan Ky district said that immediately after discovering the illegal sand mining situation in Tan Huong commune, the People's Committee of the district directed the functional branches and communes to strengthen the inspection and supervision of illegal mineral mining activities. All mining activities by individuals and organizations without being licensed by the competent State agency according to regulations are strictly prohibited.

In case of illegal mineral exploitation, the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune or town (where the violation occurs) shall be fully responsible before the Chairman of the District People's Committee and before the law. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment shall coordinate with relevant departments, offices and units to take measures to monitor the activities.mineral exploitationof the units licensed to exploit; exploit according to the approved design; review violations and boundaries of the permitted mining area. Timely handle acts of exploiting minerals outside the scope and boundaries of the mine. Supervise the full declaration of mining output according to the provisions of the current Mineral Law, request enterprises to declare and pay taxes and fees according to regulations.

Tan Ky district directed localities to tighten management of mineral exploitation, including sand and gravel on Con river. Photo: Xuan Hoang

To strengthen the management of mineral exploitation in general in the district, every year the District People's Committee has issued many documents directing specialized departments and commune authorities to strictly implement mineral management solutions.

Accordingly, every year, the provincial and district authorities detect and handle many cases of sand and gravel mining violating regulations in the district. Typically, from the beginning of 2022 to now, the provincial and district authorities have handled 3 cases of 3 mining units violating the declaration of mineral output, and have imposed administrative fines of nearly 500 million VND. Previously, in 2021, administrative fines were imposed.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh - Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Tan Ky district

With abundant mineral resources, Tan Ky district regularly strengthens inspection and handling of violations in mineral exploitation, especially sand and gravel on Con River, to avoid indiscriminate exploitation, leading to loss of security, disorder and landslides in agricultural production of local people./.