Nghe An Provincial People's Committee requested to review the commune chairman for allowing the sand wharf to operate without permission.

The above decision was made by the Provincial People's Committee after receiving reports and recommendations from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment on the results of inspections of law enforcement on mineral activities in Thanh Chuong, Nam Dan, Hung Nguyen districts and Vinh city.

The sand terminal of Hang Hai Construction Materials Private Enterprise of Mr. Tran Van Hoi in Hung Xuan, Hung Nguyen resumed operation despite being suspended for not having a license to operate an inland waterway terminal. Photo: VT

Previously, in December 2017 and January 2018, the province's inter-sectoral working group established by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment inspected 44 inland waterway ports that trade in sand and gravel in the localities of Thanh Chuong, Nam Dan, Hung Nguyen and Vinh City.

Through inspection, the working group discovered that only 9 wharves had licenses to operate inland waterway wharves. Of these, 1 wharves had land leased by the Commune People's Committee without authority; 4 wharves did not have environmental procedures according to regulations; 3 wharves traded in sand and gravel of unknown origin.

Of the 35 inland waterway ports trading in sand and gravel without operating licenses, only 24 have been approved by the Provincial People's Committee for investment policy and do not have land lease contracts. All 35 ports have been suspended and sealed by the Provincial People's Committee's interdisciplinary team since November 2015, but are still operating normally. The working group also discovered that 31/35 ports trade in sand and gravel of unknown origin, and 3 ports have not paid the budget.

The working group concluded that the situation of wharves without inland waterway wharf licenses, or having had their licenses revoked but continuing to operate, is a violation of regulations on inland waterway wharf operations. Some wharves import sand of unknown origin, which is the cause of the continued illegal exploitation.

The sand trading port in hamlet 12, Thanh Tien commune (Thanh Chuong) has been suspended by the authorities but is still operating bustlingly at night. (photo taken in January 2018)

After receiving the report of the working group, on April 11, 2018, the Provincial People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 2302 on handling the results of the inspection of compliance with the law on mineral activities in Thanh Chuong, Nam Dan, Hung Nguyen districts and Vinh city.

In particular, the Provincial People's Committee assigned the People's Committees of Thanh Chuong, Nam Dan and Hung Nguyen districts to complete the administrative violation case file and issue a decision to impose administrative sanctions on individuals and organizations that "put inland waterway ports into operation without an inland waterway port operation license from a competent state agency"; draw up a record of suspension of operations, assigning responsibility to organizations and individuals who are owners of the 35 sand ports above to terminate operations.

Regarding the act of allowing sand and gravel trading ports to operate or re-operate after being suspended, sealed, and without being granted an operating license, the Provincial People's Committee requested the above 3 districts to review the responsibilities of the Chairmen of the People's Committees of the communes and towns involved. The leaders of these communes violated Directive No. 04/CT - Provincial People's Committee dated March 27, 2017 of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee on strengthening state management of mineral resources in Nghe An province.

Regarding the 3 inland waterway ports that did not pay the budget, the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Provincial Tax Department to direct the Tax Departments of Thanh Chuong, Nam Dan, and Hung Nguyen districts to collect taxes. At the same time, the Department of Industry and Trade was assigned to coordinate with the districts to review and handle violations in the trading of sand and gravel of unknown origin to prevent tax losses.

Illegal sand and gravel mining is still complicated on Lam River, passing through Hung Nguyen district. Photo: PB

In order to prevent illegal sand and gravel mining, the Provincial People's Committee requested sectors and localities to strengthen management, detection and strict handling of illegal sand and gravel mining activities.

"In any locality where illegal sand and gravel mining occurs for a long time or recurs, the Chairman of the District People's Committee must take full responsibility before the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and the Chairman of the Commune People's Committee must take full responsibility before the Chairman of the District People's Committee," the official dispatch of the Provincial People's Committee affirmed.