On April 1, leaders of Bao Loc Ward 3 People's Committee (Lam Dong) said that they are inspecting and verifying an incident related to leveling, excavating, opening roads and encroaching on streams that occurred in the Bao Loc Pass area (belonging to Residential Group 5 Dai Lao).
According to initial verification by functional agencies, the area being leveled and excavated is forestry land, including a part belonging to Bao Loc Pass protection forest.
Records at the scene show that a hill of thousands of square meters has been leveled, surrounded by natural forests and pine forests. Many bushes and reeds have been dug up, leaving only bare ground.
After leveling, the violator also used monolithic stone to create a landscape around this area.
Along with that, there is also a situation of opening roads on forestry land. Specifically, from National Highway 20 (Bao Loc Pass), a road about 4m wide and tens of meters long has been opened into the leveling area.
To open the road, a large natural stone block was destroyed; at the same time, a negative slope was formed adjacent to the pine forest, posing a risk of landslides in the rainy season. A large amount of soil and rock was also excavated to serve leveling.
Notably, the construction process encroached on the natural stream next to it. Many soil and rocks were dumped deep into the stream bed with a length of hundreds of meters.
According to Mr. N.V.L, a local resident, Bao Loc Pass is a vital pass on National Highway 20, connecting Lam Dong with Ho Chi Minh City and southeastern provinces.
All impacts such as leveling, excavation, and encroachment in this area all pose a high risk of landslides, which is very dangerous.
I have lived here for nearly 30 years, this is a very dangerous leveling and encroachment case in the Bao Loc pass area. They not only level and dig to change the status quo but also encroach on natural streams, this is unacceptable. Therefore, functional agencies need to soon intervene to clarify and strictly handle violations, thereby deterring cases of intending to encroach on forest land and forestry land in this area," Mr. L said.
Many small forest trees and shrubs in the stream are also cleared, seriously affecting the flow and natural environment.
Talking to a reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Huy Hoang - Head of the Economic, Infrastructure and Urban Department of Ward 3 Bao Loc said that after receiving the reflection, the unit coordinated with the Bao Loc Regional Forest Protection Department to conduct an inspection.
Through initial inspection, the leveled area is forestry land, of which about 1,000m2 belongs to Bao Loc pass protection forest. Currently, we are measuring and counting the violating area; and at the same time coordinating with relevant agencies to verify and clarify the violators for handling according to regulations," Mr. Hoang said.
Some images recorded by Lao Dong Newspaper reporters at the scene of leveling and encroaching on streams on Bao Loc Pass:
