Violation of wood processing and chipping activities in Ky Son commune (Tan Ky): Suspend the enterprise, review the commune

Clear violation

Wood chip processing and chopping workshop in Tien Phong hamlet, Ky Son communeTan Ky District People's Committeediscovered on July 31, 2024, through verifying citizen reports.

Because the wood processing and chipping sector in the province has many shortcomings and violations, on July 19, 2024, the Provincial People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 6089/UBND-NN to rectify state management work; Tan Ky District People's Committee then issued Official Dispatch No. 1410/UBND-NN dated July 25, 2024 to convey the direction of the Provincial People's Committee to the commune-level authorities.

However, the People's Committee of Ky Son commune did not promptly detect and report, so after two written reminders, the People's Committee of Tan Ky district had to establish an interdisciplinary team to inspect the operation of the wood chip processing and chopping workshop in Tien Phong hamlet in Decision No. 2483/QD-UBND dated August 14, 2024.

After more than 1 month of performing the task, on October 4, 2024, with Report No. 01/BC-DLN, the Interdisciplinary Team officially reported the inspection results to the People's Committee of Tan Ky district. Accordingly, the wood chip processing and chopping workshop in Tien Phong hamlet was jointly organized by Vinh Chemical Joint Stock Company and Tuyen Quang Forest Products Processing and Trading Joint Stock Company (with a business cooperation contract with the content of "business cooperation in the field of forest products processing").

On the side of Vinh Chemical Joint Stock Company, the Department of Planning and Investment granted the Investment Registration Certificate No. 5355681445, dated January 25, 2017 to implement the Investment Project of production and trading of biological organic fertilizers in Tien Phong hamlet, Ky Son commune; and Tuyen Quang Forestry Products Trading and Processing Joint Stock Company was granted a business license by the Department of Planning and Investment with Industry Code (0231) to exploit forest products from wood (utilizing garden wood, branches, tops, bark, corn, acacia to grind into chips).

Through inspection, the Interdisciplinary Team determined that Vinh Chemical Joint Stock Company had not yet carried out procedures to adjust the investment registration certificate according to the provisions of law; had not yet complied with the contents of the investment policy approval document and investment registration certificate as prescribed in Clause a, Article 19, Decree No. 122/2021/ND-CP dated December 28, 2021 of the Government.

As for Tuyen Quang Forestry Processing and Trading Joint Stock Company, it confirmed to the Interdisciplinary Delegation that it is simultaneously running a trial run of the wood chipping line and carrying out procedures to adjust the investment registration certificate according to the provisions of law. Therefore, the two companies simultaneously committed to stopping the trial run of the wood chipping line; collecting pre-processed wood chips and all acacia wood purchased from the people.

Regarding the People's Committee of Ky Son commune, the Interdisciplinary Team determined that the local government fully received the directive documents from the superiors. After July 31, 2024, the People's Committee of Tan Ky district discovered a wood chip processing workshop in Tien Phong hamlet and issued a written reminder. On August 2, 2024, the People's Committee of Ky Son commune made a record of inspection and requested the temporary suspension of wood chip processing activities without licensing procedures.

Afterwards, there were Reports No. 84/BC-UBND dated August 5, 2024; Report No. 87/BC-UBND dated August 7, 2024; Report No. 89/BC-UBND dated August 12, 2024 on compliance with the law in the field of wood processing and chipping after inspection at Tien Phong hamlet, Ky Son commune.

At the same time, a review of responsibilities was organized for members related to wood chip processing activities. Mr. Nguyen Van Tho - Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung - Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee were not close and strict in leading and directing cadres to perform their duties; land officials Duong Van Kien and Hoang Van Tan did not report in a timely manner, were slow to advise the leaders of the Commune People's Committee to report to the District People's Committee; forestry officer Dang Huu Sy did not promptly check and grasp the situation of the wood chip processing and chopping workshop's operations, leading to late reporting and incomplete reporting to the leaders of the Commune People's Committee.

However, the Interdisciplinary Delegation determined that the People's Committee of Ky Son commune had not implemented the directive document, organized the inspection and compiled the report in a timely manner as required by the District People's Committee. At the same time, it had not seriously implemented Directive No. 20/CT-UBND dated June 4, 2024 of the Provincial People's Committee Chairman on strengthening discipline, administrative discipline, and improving work efficiency in state administrative agencies and units in the province.

Recommendations for handling violations

Based on the inspection results, the Interdisciplinary Team requested the Chairman of the District People's Committee to assign Vinh Chemical Joint Stock Company and Tuyen Quang Forestry Processing Joint Stock Company to commit to suspend wood processing and chipping activities in Tien Phong hamlet, Ky Son commune to complete all procedures according to the provisions of law.

Continue to complete all investment procedures; occupational safety and hygiene records before going into operation according to the provisions of law. At the same time, strengthen coordination with the People's Committee of Ky Son commune, district-level departments and branches to strictly comply with legal regulations in production and business activities of enterprises, create a healthy and effective investment and business environment, contribute to economic and social development and maintain security and order in the area.

The interdisciplinary delegation also requested the Chairman of the District People's Committee to direct the People's Committee of Ky Son commune to strengthen the inspection of business cooperation activities between Vinh Chemical Joint Stock Company and Tuyen Quang Forest Products Processing Joint Stock Company to promptly detect and prevent violations in investment, land, environment, forest products, fire prevention, etc.

At the same time, organize strict review, clarify responsibilities or propose disciplinary measures for relevant collectives and individuals who have not promptly and seriously implemented the required contents in Official Dispatch No. 1410/UBND-NN dated July 25, 2024 of the District People's Committee on strengthening state management, rectifying wood chip processing and chopping activities in the area; and the delay in reporting the required contents in Official Dispatch No. 1412/UBND-NN dated July 25, 2024 on reporting changes and recommending and proposing policies and strategies for establishments operating, purchasing and processing wood chips in the area.

The interdisciplinary delegation also requested the Chairman of the District People's Committee to issue a document of severe criticism to the Chairman of the People's Committee of Ky Son commune for being slow in implementing the contents of Official Dispatch No. 1410/UBND-NN, Official Dispatch No. 1412/UBND-NN dated July 25, 2024 of the District People's Committee; not strictly implementing Directive No. 20/CT-UBND dated June 4, 2024 of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee. And issued a document recommending the Provincial People's Committee, relevant departments and branches to have solutions to remove difficulties and obstacles for businesses operating in wood chip processing in the province in general and Tan Ky district in particular.

Regarding the wood chip processing and chopping workshop in Tien Phong hamlet, Ky Son commune, Nghe An Newspaper on August 15-16, 2024 reported through the articles "Ignoring" the direction of superiors, a commune in Tan Ky district was criticized for its responsibility"; "Establishing an interdisciplinary team to inspect wood chip processing and chopping activities in a commune that "ignored" the direction of superiors". In which, on August 1, 2024, Tan Ky District People's Committee issued urgent Document No. 1465/UBND-NN to rectify the purchasing, processing, and chopping of wood chips in Ky Son commune, criticized the Chairman of Ky Son Commune People's Committee; assigned Ky Son Commune People's Committee to organize a review of the responsibility of related officials, organize inspections, reviews, handle or recommend handling according to its authority for wood chip purchasing, processing, and chopping establishments that have been operating in the area with violations...However, on August 7, 2024, Tan Ky District People's Committee continued to issue urgent Document No. 1518/UBND-NN requesting the Chairman of Ky Son Commune People's Committee to strictly implement the contents of urgent Document No. 1465/UBND-NN dated August 1, 2024.