Do Luong Brick Factory: Illegal land exploitation

(Baonghean) - Despite lacking a mineral resource exploitation license, for many years the Do Luong Tunnel Brick Factory has been arbitrarily using mechanical equipment to excavate soil indiscriminately in Nhan Son commune, Do Luong district, to produce bricks.

Following the dirt road behind the Do Luong Tunnel Brick Factory, one sees deep, dug-out ponds, right next to the cassava fields of the local people. Mr. Nguyen Doan B, from Hamlet 1, Nhan Son Commune, pointed to a newly dug-up field with fresh soil and said angrily: “Recently, we saw the Do Luong Tunnel Brick Factory's excavators digging up soil in the Chao Chao field, and trucks brazenly came in to transport the soil. We reported it to the commune, and only then did they withdraw. But look, the flat, fertile land has quickly turned into a ‘pond’.” Going deeper into the Chao Chao field, one sees many ponds and lakes that have been haphazardly dug up.

Mr. B also asserted: The Do Luong Tunnel Brick Factory only dared to excavate land if the commune had "sold" it. Observations show that the entire stretch of the Rao Gang River is eroding, and according to local residents, the main cause is the Do Luong Tunnel Brick Factory's "carving up" of the land. The amount of soil excavated by this factory is piled close to the riverbank and then transported to the factory by truck. Next to it is the brick kiln of Mr. Nguyen Duy Thuc (from Hung Yen). This kiln has been operating for over 10 years in Nhan Son commune, and there is a land lease contract between the kiln owner and the commune's People's Committee. Looking at the vast lake, Mr. B said: This brick kiln has also dug too deep, causing landslides in many of the people's rice fields, not to mention that we residents have to breathe in the polluted smoke and dust from the kiln all year round.

Illegal excavation of soil in the Chào Chào field (Nhân Sơn commune).

Mr. Nguyen Doan Nhuong, head of Hamlet 2, Nhan Son, shared: "We have raised concerns with the Do Luong Tunnel Brick Factory about their illegal excavation, and they claim they purchased and bid for the land from the commune. The hamlet has 86 households, with only over 25 hectares of agricultural land (rice, crops), of which the factory has excavated 1 hectare of rice and other crops, affecting the villagers' fields. For the past few years, to cope with the Do Luong Tunnel Brick Factory's excavation affecting our rice paddies, the villagers have resorted to using bamboo stakes to reinforce the embankments and prevent erosion."

Excavating land for brick production is causing erosion of the Rào Gang riverbank.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Ha, Director of the Do Luong Tunnel Brick Factory, explained: The factory was granted a land mining license covering over 10 hectares, valid from 2002 to 2006. In 2007, the factory applied for an extension, but for long-term stability, it switched to applying for a 30-year land mining license. However, due to some obstacles, the licensing process is not yet complete. Knowing that mining without a license is wrong, we still continue to mine land to "hold on." Mr. Ha added: The factory has invested over 30 billion VND in two brick production lines, but only one line is currently operational, with a capacity of approximately 18 million bricks per year.

Regarding the issue of the Do Luong Tunnel Brick Factory illegally exploiting land for many years, Mr. Nguyen Dang Chu - Chairman of the People's Committee of Nhan Son commune - explained: "We did not sell or tender land to the Do Luong Tunnel Brick Factory for its operations. The Chao Chao rice paddy area belongs to Nhan Son commune, but Minh Son commune encroached on it and then leased it to them."

Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Vo, Chairman of the Minh Son Commune People's Committee, explained: "It is true that the Chao Chao area in Minh Son commune has encroached on Nhan Son commune's land by more than 6 hectares. As for the issue of the Do Luong Tunnel Brick Factory illegally exploiting land, we have not yet received information to verify it..."

It is known that recently, the People's Committee of Do Luong District issued a decision to fine the Do Luong Tunnel Brick Factory 30 million VND for illegal land exploitation. From 2011 to the present, the People's Committee of the district has fined this unit 90 million VND. However, over the past period, after being fined, things have gone back to how they were before?

King Tran