Request to inspect and verify the illegal exploitation of quartz ore in Nghe An

Clarifying the illegal mining of quartz ore in Nghe An

(Baonghean.vn) - After receiving and posting the information "Revealing the illegal mining of quartz ore in Nghe An" (Nghe An electronic newspaper on July 15, 2020), from expanding investigation channels, it was confirmed that there was a situation of "ore thieves", thereby also showing that the local authorities at the grassroots level showed signs of loosening their responsibility in state management.

Document No. 3441/STNMT-KS dated July 17, 2020 of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment sent to the Chairman of the People's Committee of Quy Hop district. Photo: PVĐT Group

Pursuant to the provisions of the law on minerals, the responsibilities of the People's Committees at district and commune levels for the protection of unexploited minerals are assigned and delegated by the Provincial People's Committee in the following documents: Directive No. 04/CT-UBND dated March 27, 2017 on strengthening state management of minerals in the province; Coordination regulations issued together with Decision No. 47/QD-UBND dated June 1, 2017 and Plan for protection of unexploited minerals issued under Decision No. 4182/QD-UBND dated September 12, 2017, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment requests the People's Committee of Quy Hop district to direct relevant departments, units and the People's Committee of Chau Hong commune to urgently inspect, clarify the reflected information and take measures to handle and end the above illegal exploitation situation; Resolutely handle the responsibility of the Chairman of Chau Hong Commune People's Committee and related organizations and individuals if the illegal mining situation continues for a long time without being resolved as reported by the newspaper.

The results of the inspection and handling of the request will be sent to the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department, the Department of Information and Communications, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and feedback to Nghe An Newspaper before July 30, 2020.

Regarding this incident, in early July 2020, Nghe An Newspaper received information that there was illegal mining of quartz ore in Chau Hong Commune, Quy Hop District. Verification from many different sources showed that the information reported to Nghe An Newspaper was well-founded. The area with illegal mining was identified as Lan Toong Mountain, Chau Hong Commune, Quy Hop District. The mining site was located next to a stream, on forestry land assigned to people for management and production according to Decree 163/ND-CP.

Area with illegal mining. Photo: Contributor

From the sources, the Nghe An Newspaper's reporter team entered the scene, which was at the foot of some hills close to Lan Toong Mountain, surrounded by forestry lands planted with acacia trees of all ages; some areas were newly exploited and not yet planted. The area with signs of illegal stone mining was about 200m long, the estimated area of ​​excavation and exploitation was about several thousand square meters. On it, some ore rocks were dug up and piled up. Also here, there was a tent covered with tarpaulin with living items, blankets and a few motorbikes.

To form the route, people cut down the height of the hillsides, opening the route wide enough for heavy-duty vehicles to enter and exit. Photo: NLTV

To make way, people have cut down several years old acacia trees. Photo: NLTV

The road to this area, starting from the shallow stream under Chau Hong 1 bridge, connects to a newly opened road that curves along the forestry hill area where 4-5 year old acacia trees are planted. To form the road, people have cut down the height of the hillsides, opening a road wide enough for heavy-duty vehicles to enter and exit.

Regarding the type of illegally mined stone ore, the color is not uniform. Most of them are white, some are white mixed with yellow, gray and have a metallic sheen. The size and weight are also uneven, some are relatively large, about 0.1 - 0.3m3. In general, there are many similarities with the type of quartz stone ore illegally mined in Thanh Son commune, Thanh Chuong district, which many media agencies reported in 2019.

Rock ore is gathered and piled up in an illegal mining area. Photo: NLTV

The group of reporters also conducted an investigation to verify the management and use of land where there is an illegal mineral exploitation site. Thereby, it was determined that this is a state forestry land that has been assigned the right to manage and use to a household living in Chau Hong commune.

With the information investigated and verified, on July 15-16, 2020, Nghe An Newspaper published the following news and articles: "Revealing the illegal mining of quartz ore in Nghe An"; "Clarifying the illegal mining of quartz ore in Nghe An".

The location of illegal mining is not too far from Poong village residential area and National Highway 48C. Photo: NLTV

In these news and articles, Nghe An Newspaper has informed about the incident. At the same time, it requested the People's Committee of Quy Hop district to strictly implement Directive No. 04/CT-UBND of the Provincial People's Committee on strengthening state management of minerals in the province; urgently inspect and clarify the situation of illegal mineral exploitation in Chau Hong commune and seriously consider the responsibility of the state management role of the commune government.