On the afternoon of April 3, the interdisciplinary inspection team chaired by the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Nghe An province agreed to cut about 2 hectares of the sand mining license in Dong Van commune (Thanh Chuong district), an area where people have been protesting for many days.
The above move was made after people in Tien Quanh hamlet, Dong Van commune, continuously complained about the situation of sand mining causing landslides on the Lam River bank, affecting production and residential safety. On April 3, the Interdisciplinary Inspection Team worked with enterprises, local authorities and relevant parties to review the current status of exploitation in the area.
Mr. Nguyen Cong Luc - Head of the Mineral Resources Department, Nghe An Department of Agriculture and Environment - said that the inspection team agreed to cut about 2 hectares of the area in license No. 2905/GP-UBND issued to Thanh Chuong Minerals and Transport Joint Stock Company since 2018. The cut area is located right in the section where people are protesting and worrying that the exploitation will cause landslides, threatening the cultivated land.
After the inspection, the mission asked the enterprise to suspend the entire exploitation until completed the adjustment of the boundary landmark, mapping the region to cut according to the status determined in the morning meeting on the same day. It is expected that the adjusted zoning map must be completed by the end of 4.4.
Along with adjusting the boundary, the authorities are also reviewing signs of violations during the mining process. Previously, according to document No. 765/UBND-TNMT dated April 1 of Thanh Chuong District People's Committee sent to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the field inspection showed that Thanh Chuong Minerals and Transport Joint Stock Company had exploited beyond the licensed scope, with an area of over 1,000m2 outside the license limit.
The continuous exploitation of sand and gravel along the Lam River has caused landslides in recent times, causing people in communes along the river, especially Dong Van commune, to worry. Recorded at the scene through Tien Quanh hamlet, many riverbanks have seriously subsided, close to residential areas.
In previous dialogues, people recommended stopping exploitation in sensitive areas, and at the same time requested authorities to investigate signs of businesses exploiting beyond the permit and re-evaluate the environmental impact of the project.
Mr. Trinh Van Nha - Chairman of Thanh Chuong District People's Committee - also directly dialogues with the people, affirming that the locality will coordinate with departments and branches to inspect and review all exploitation activities to strictly handle any violations.
The case is currently being monitored and handled by the authorities of Nghe An province according to regulations.
