Request Tan Hoang Khang Joint Stock Company to support all costs to fix the problem of cracking and subsidence of land in Quy Hop

This is the latest conclusion of comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee regarding the situation of land subsidence, cracked houses, constructions and dry wells in Chau Hong commune, Quy Hop district.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung directly inspected the subsidence situation at a household's house in Chau Hong commune on May 29, 2022. Photo: Pham Bang

Previously, on August 4, 2022, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung held a meeting to hear the handling results of the Interdisciplinary Inspection Team established under Decision No. 1505/QD-UBND dated June 2, 2022 of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee (referred to as the Inspection Team); results of geological survey to find the causes of subsidence, cracking and inspection and assessment of the quality of affected works in Chau Hong commune (Quy Hop).

The meeting took place more than 2 months after Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung directly inspected and examined the situation of subsidence, cracks in construction works, and dry wells in Chau Hong commune on May 29, 2022.

After the actual inspection process, working with departments, branches, the North Central Geological Federation, and Quy Hop district, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested to continue to temporarily suspend all groundwater pumping and groundwater exploitation activities of mineral exploitation enterprises in Chau Hong commune.

To determine the cause of subsidence, landslides, houses, and constructions, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to preside over the establishment of an interdisciplinary inspection team to inspect mineral exploitation activities in Chau Hong commune, first of all Tan Hoang Khang Joint Stock Company. This interdisciplinary team must complete the inspection results and report to the Provincial People's Committee before July 31, 2022.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also personally inspected the operations of Tan Hoang Khang Joint Stock Company. At the time of the inspection, the company was temporarily suspending operations and groundwater pumping. Photo: Pham Bang

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung also assigned the Department of Construction to preside over and select a unit to inspect and evaluate the quality of houses and constructions with subsidence and cracking in Chau Hong commune to determine the risk and extent of damage, and on that basis calculate the support plan later. The North Central Geological Federation will carry out the task of assessing the causes of subsidence and cracking of land, constructions, houses, and dry wells in Chau Hong commune, and will have a conclusion by July 31, 2022 at the latest.

At a recent meeting, after listening to the report of the Head of the Inspection Team, the opinions and discussions of the participants, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung assessed that although the agencies, units and localities have tried their best to carry out the tasks assigned by the Provincial People's Committee, the exact cause of subsidence, cracks in the ground, constructions, houses and dry wells in Chau Hong commune (Quy Hop) has not yet been fully and accurately determined.

To ensure absolute safety for people's lives and property and to quickly find the cause of cracks and subsidence in Chau Hong commune, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung requested to continue stopping all pumping and groundwater exploitation activities of mineral exploitation enterprises in Chau Hong commune.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung grasped the thoughts and aspirations and directly dialogued with the people of Chau Hong commune. Photo: Pham Bang

At the same time, the People's Committee of Quy Hop district was assigned to inspect the implementation of the decision to stop pumping and exploiting groundwater by mineral exploitation enterprises in Chau Hong commune; strictly handle violations and take full responsibility before the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also assigned the People's Committee of Quy Hop district to continue working with the North Central Geological Federation on the contents of the signed contract. In particular, it is necessary to clearly state the causes of land subsidence and dry wells in Na Hieng village, Cong village, Quen village and areas with land subsidence in the research area, propose reasonable prevention measures...; Report the results to the Provincial People's Committee before August 15, 2022.

Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung also requested to temporarily suspend mineral exploitation activities of Tan Hoang Khang Joint Stock Company in Chau Hong commune to clarify violations during the exploitation process (implementing wrong mine design, exploiting groundwater exceeding the prescribed flow rate, etc.); requested Tan Hoang Khang Joint Stock Company to be responsible for supporting all costs to overcome incidents caused by the impact of cracking and subsidence of the land.

Assign the Department of Construction to urgently complete the task of inspecting and assessing the quality of affected works (assigned by the Provincial People's Committee in Document No. 354/UBND-NN dated July 29, 2022); hand over the inspection dossier to the People's Committee of Quy Hop district, and coordinate with the People's Committee of Quy Hop district in calculating the support level for affected works, to be completed before August 31, 2022.

Thung Lun tin mine of Tan Hoang Khang Joint Stock Company seen from above. Photo: Tien Hung

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also assigned the People's Committee of Quy Hop district to closely follow the locality, continue to direct the People's Committee of Chau Hong commune to ensure safety and stabilize people's lives; receive inspection records, evaluate the quality of affected works, coordinate with relevant agencies and units to calculate support for affected works in the area; work with affected people to agree on a support plan to be completed before August 31, 2022.

At the same time, request the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the Inspection Team and related units to clarify the responsibility for remedying the consequences of violations according to the results of the Inspection Team; Only consider the proposed contents of Tan Hoang Khang Joint Stock Company after the company has completed the support to remedy the damage caused by cracks and subsidence of the land and fully performed the responsibilities and obligations as prescribed./.