Establish order for sand and gravel exploitation and trading

(Baonghean)- After more than a month of implementing Decision 5445/QD-UBND-NC dated November 25, 2015 of the Provincial People's Committee,Sand and gravel mining, transportation and gathering activities on Lam Riverhas been corrected...

At Yen Xuan Bridge, Hung Nguyen District, at the end of 2015, the sand and gravel gathering and trading areas were no longer as busy as before. There were only a few crane platforms left, and the bridge structure had not been completely dismantled due to a power line problem. On the right side of Yen Xuan Bridge, there were 2 sand and gravel mining and trading enterprises that had been leased locations by the local government. Before the policy of relocating the yard, although production and business had to be temporarily suspended, they seriously complied.

At the foot of Yen Xuan railway bridge, there are 4 sand and gravel trading yards that have basically completed the transportation of sand and gravel, machinery, cranes, etc.

Mr. Tran Van Hoi - a business owner expressed: "The business strictly follows the direction of the province. But I also hope that the authorities will consider choosing to rent a new location so that we do not have stagnation in production and business, workers have jobs, businesses have money to pay bank debts..." According to Mr. Nguyen Van Phan - Chairman of Hung Xuan Commune People's Committee, there are 4 sand and gravel wharves on both sides of Yen Xuan railway bridge. Up to now, the owners of the wharves have all complied with the clearance. Hung Xuan Commune authorities have also received the handover of the site for management and supervision, to prevent the re-establishment of sand and gravel wharves from happening.

After the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision 5445/QD-UBND-NC dated November 25, 2015 on inspection and handling of violations in the exploitation, transportation and gathering of sand and gravel on the Lam River; Plan 753/KH-UBND-NC dated November 25, 2015 on the implementation of Decision 5445/QD-UBND-NC, the interdisciplinary delegation organized working sessions with the authorities of Vinh City, Hung Nguyen, Nam Dan, Thanh Chuong districts and organizations, individuals and enterprises participating in sand and gravel trading activities to disseminate the policies of the State and the direction of the Provincial People's Committee. After that, the inspection and handling of violations were strengthened, and at the same time, the owners of sand and gravel yards along the Lam River were urged to clear the site.

The inspection team conducted a final inspection and handed over the clean site to the Hung Xuan commune government (Hung Nguyen) for management.

Up to now, Vinh City has handed over clean areas to the local authorities to manage 6/7 illegal wharves, only Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hao, Mai Loc hamlet, Hung Dong commune has not yet cleared the area. Hung Nguyen district has 17 sand and gravel gathering wharves; has handed over clean areas to the local authorities for 17/17 wharves. In Thanh Chuong district, there are 23 sand and gravel wharves; has organized the signing of commitments with all organizations, individuals, and enterprises participating in sand and gravel exploitation and trading activities; inspected and handed over clean areas to the local authorities for all 23 wharves. In Nam Dan district, the working group organized the signing of commitments with all organizations, individuals, and enterprises participating in sand and gravel exploitation and trading activities; continued to inspect the compliance of 22 wharves to hand over clean areas to the local authorities.

Lieutenant Colonel Chu Minh Tien - Deputy Head of the Environmental Police Department, Head of the interdisciplinary delegation, said: The delegation has handled many cases of illegal sand mining, and seized evidence and means. The illegal miners who were handled are: Mr. Pham Van Binh (born in 1974), residing in area 7, Vi Da ward, Hue city, mining at Lam river in Hong Son hamlet, Nam Thuong commune (Nam Dan); Mr. Mai Xuan Thong (born in 1989), residing in Yen Binh hamlet, Thanh Yen commune, mining at Yen Phu hamlet, Thanh Yen commune (Thanh Chuong); Mr. Tran Van Yen (born in 1957), residing in Van Tai hamlet, Nghi Hoa commune (Nghi Loc) mining at Lam river in hamlet 12, Nam Trung commune (Nam Dan); Mr. Le Van Bay (born in 1973), residing in K4, Dung town (Thanh Chuong) mining at Dong Chua sand wharf in Luan Hong hamlet, Dong Van commune (Thanh Chuong);...

A bridge tower is removed from the dock area.

In addition, from information from the people, the working group collected 2 denunciations of illegal mineral exploitation in Quy Chau and Que Phong districts. The interdisciplinary group reported to the Standing Committee and on December 19, 2015, at Quang River in Que Son commune, Que Phong district, the inspection team arrested an illegal gold mining complex owned by Mr. Nguyen Van Huy (born in 1970), residing in Hamlet 3, Kim My commune, Kim Son district, Ninh Binh province. The exhibits and vehicles temporarily seized included 1 Hyundai excavator, 1 gold screening system, and 1 generator. On December 19, 2015, at Hoa Binh village, Chau Binh commune (Quy Chau), an illegal titanium mining complex owned by Mr. Le Van Ha (born in 1967), residing in Hamlet 32, Chau Binh commune, was arrested. The temporarily seized exhibits include 6 engines, 2 VIT titanium ore selection systems, and 6,132 kg of raw titanium ore. In addition, 2 violations were punished for operators without certificates as prescribed; and ships and boats without registration or inspection.

Up to now, illegal mining activities on Lam River have been prevented, licensed mining activities have initially been put into order. However, according to Lieutenant Colonel Chu Minh Tien, there are still difficulties and obstacles such as mining activities on the river, the situation of mining outside the mine area is still happening; some enterprises are slow to install buoys, making it difficult to determine whether mining is inside or outside the mine; activities of overloading on the river are still common; At the gathering places, the commune authorities have loosened management, allowing individuals and organizations to build houses, invest in equipment and machinery. Therefore, when the clearance is handed over to the Commune People's Committee for reception, there is still a potential for violations to recur; Enterprises and cooperatives operating in the business of mining and transporting sand and gravel from rivers and streams, with a large number of workers participating but without mines or gathering places, face many difficulties...

The inspection team members made a record of handing over the site to the Hung Xuan commune government for management.

Faced with this reality, the interdisciplinary delegation requested the Provincial People's Committee to continue implementing Plan 753 to inspect the compliance with commitments of individuals, organizations, and enterprises operating in inland waterway ports. If any individual, organization, or enterprise continues to fail to comply, a list will be made and reported to the Provincial People's Committee to direct the People's Committees of Vinh City and Hung Nguyen, Nam Dan, and Thanh Chuong districts to issue a decision to organize enforcement in accordance with the law.

In Nam Dan district alone, there are 17 wharves that have been granted inland waterway licenses by the district People's Committee (including 13 wharves that were leased land for the wrong purpose by the commune People's Committee and have had their contracts terminated, 2 wharves were granted after Circular 50/2014/TT-BGTVT dated October 17, 2014, 2 wharves are located in the Nam Dan bridge corridor) and there is no solution. Therefore, the interdisciplinary team inspected and signed a commitment for the wharves' owners to suspend operations, and at the same time proposed that the provincial People's Committee direct relevant agencies to coordinate with the Nam Dan district People's Committee to take measures to resolve the issue./.

Nhat Lan