Len Chua stone quarry being 'shredded': Clarifying the responsibilities of related organizations and individuals

(Baonghean.vn) - With a series of violations by enterprises at Len Chua quarry, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has just issued Document No. 4586/STNMT-KS requesting the Provincial People's Committee to suspend mineral exploitation activities; directing the People's Committee of Hoang Mai Town to clarify the lax state management of related organizations and individuals.

Len Chua quarry on August 29, 2017. Photo: Nhat Lan

In Official Dispatch No. 4586/STNMT-KS, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment specifically stated that the mining enterprises at Len Chua quarry, in Quynh Xuan commune (Hoang Mai town), namely Thanh Xuan Company Limited and Xuan Hung Company Limited, had violated the mining regulations by exploiting minerals beyond the scope of up to 10% of the total height of the permitted mining area; therefore, on February 8-9, 2017, the Provincial People's Committee imposed an administrative fine of 120 million VND/enterprise; revoked the right to use the mineral mining license for a period of 2 months; forced to level and restore the environment for the area that had been exploited beyond the depth.

Stone mining and production activities of the enterprise at Len Chua quarry were recorded on August 29, 2017. Photo: Pham Bang

However, up to now, only Thanh Xuan Company Limited has complied with the fine payment; has carried out leveling of some locations but the leveling volume is insignificant, completely unsatisfactory. Meanwhile, Xuan Hung Company Limited has not complied with the fine payment; has not carried out leveling and environmental restoration.

As of August 18, through on-site inspection, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment determined that both enterprises were mining beyond the permitted depth; there were transportation activities causing environmental pollution, emitting dust and noise affecting people's lives; there were stone mining activities using blasting methods affecting people's houses; in addition, there were violations in construction order, building concrete mixing stations without permission from competent authorities...

Concrete mixing station built illegally by Xuan Hung Company Limited in Len Chua quarry area. Photo by Nhat Lan

Based on the inspection of the implementation of the decision to sanction administrative violations of the Provincial People's Committee against enterprises and the actual situation on the ground, in order to strictly implement the state management of mineral activities, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment proposed the Provincial People's Committee to suspend mineral exploitation activities of the above two enterprises for 90 days; force the implementation of land reclamation and environmental restoration for areas that have been exploited beyond the permitted depth. As for Xuan Hung Company Limited, it is required to pay a fine of 120 million VND.

In addition, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment also requested the Provincial People's Committee to assign responsibility to the People's Committee of Hoang Mai Town to inspect the construction of concrete mixing stations without permission from competent authorities; to inspect and supervise the implementation of administrative penalty decisions of the Provincial People's Committee.

Mineral exploitation activities of enterprises tens of meters below ground level have negatively affected the houses of residents around the Len Chua quarry. Photo: Pham Bang

At the same time, clarify responsibilities and strictly handle relevant organizations and individuals who are lax in construction management and mineral management in the Len Chua area, allowing the above violations to occur.

In August 2017, Nghe An Newspaper had the following articles: “Enterprises ignore suspension orders, continue to "destroy" Len Chua;"Strictly handle violations at Len Chua quarry", with content reflecting violations in the field of construction and mineral exploitation of two companies Xuan Hung LLC and Thanh Xuan LLC, in August 2017.

Nhat Lan