Strengthening local government accountability

(Baonghean)Although our province has taken many positive measures to strengthen the management of mineral exploitation, in recent times, this field has remained complicated, showing the weakness in resource management of local authorities.

Faced with the current situation of unsafe mining with the risk of tunnel collapse as reported by Nghe An Newspaper, Mr. Cao Thanh Long - Chairman of Quy Hop District People's Committee said: "In Quy Hop area, there is still a situation where mining enterprises do not comply with the correct procedures and regulations. In Chau Cuong, Chau Hong, Chau Tien and Lien Hop communes, illegal tin mining often occurs and there are still no effective measures to solve this problem. In particular, some organizations and individuals still mine tin in a "frog pit" style hundreds of meters deep underground and lack means to ensure labor safety, with a very high risk of tunnel collapse. Although the district has established an interdisciplinary team to push back and confiscate vehicles, machinery, etc., it has only stabilized for a short time, then illegal tin mining recurs."

In the province, there are 43 enterprises licensed to mine and process tin ore, but in reality, many enterprises, units and individuals are still illegally mining tin and the number is increasing. This situation not only makes tin mining in our province quite complicated, causing disorder in security and labor safety, environmental pollution, tax loss... but also creates an unhealthy competitive market, greatly affecting the investment attraction environment.

Quy Hop and Tan Ky are two localities with a lot of minerals, especially tin. Tin mining areas are located in remote areas, with difficult transportation and the local government has not really taken an active role, so the management of tin mining is facing many difficulties. The current alarming situation is that a number of enterprises (licensed) in Quy Hop and Tan Ky are "ignoring" environmental protection, not complying with environmental treatment, seriously affecting water resources, forests... To thoroughly handle this problem, there needs to be a policy to create jobs for people, and local authorities must improve their responsibility in managing the area and mineral resources. Recently, the province has coordinated with functional agencies to inspect the mining and processing of all kinds of stones for 119 enterprises in the province, resulting in the suspension of mineral exploitation of 13 enterprises and administrative fines of 100 million VND.

In the communes of Cam Muon and Quang Phong (Que Phong), Chau Hoan (Quy Chau), Nam Son and Bac Son (Quy Hop), Yen Na, Yen Hoa and Yen Tinh (Tuong Duong), the problem of alluvial gold mining along the Ca River (the section flowing through the districts of Ky Son, Tuong Duong and Con Cuong) is still a problem. 20 units have been licensed to mine and process gold ore. Because most of the mining activities are alluvial gold ore, it has seriously affected the environment, especially the rivers and streams at the source, the vegetation has been destroyed, affecting the lives of people around the mine. Land reclamation and environmental restoration after mining have not been carried out, affecting the flow of rivers and streams, causing landslides. In Xop Kha village (Yen Hoa commune, Tuong Duong), the Viet - Lao Company was licensed to mine open-pit gold, but this enterprise has arbitrarily transferred the mine to another unit for exploitation (but in name, it is still under the name of the Viet - Lao Company).

Gold mining causes landslides and changes the flow of the Ca River.

Mr. Lo Thai Sinh - Chairman of Yen Hoa Commune People's Committee said: "The commune has inspected the mine many times and found that the mining process was wrong, such as digging up rocks and soil into pits without restoring the ground, crushing rocks and soil to select gold without a sedimentation tank and discharging them directly into streams and creeks, causing pollution to the Lip stream and the local people in Xop Kha. Also at Phu Phen peak (Yen Tinh commune, Tuong Duong), Bao Lam Company was granted a 3-year mining license, but the mining did not have a sedimentation tank, and the mountain was dug up in a way that was not in accordance with the design documents...

Recently, at a meeting to discuss solutions for mineral exploitation management, Colonel Nguyen Huu Cau - Deputy Director of the Provincial Police Department said: "To restore order in the field of mineral exploitation, in the coming time, it is necessary to continue to maintain the interdisciplinary inspection team according to Decision No. 2636/QD - UBND.NC to strengthen the fight against and handle illegal mineral exploitation activities in the province. In addition, assign local authorities to effectively manage and protect mineral resources and if any locality allows illegal exploitation to continue, but does not have a definitive solution, the local leaders must take responsibility. In reality, if in the communes, local authorities manage the area well, businesses and people cannot bring in vehicles and machinery to illegally mine gold. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the role of state management at the commune level".

Long-term, sustainable measures in managing illegal mining are to strengthen propaganda, mobilization, and dissemination of mineral laws. Timely and appropriately implement mineral planning for each locality. In the coming time, complete the demarcation and approval of areas where mineral activities are prohibited, and promptly issue legal documents on minerals.

Hoang Vinh