Life is turned upside down
Recently, Lao Dong Newspaper published an article "Lao Cai people are miserable because businesses are breaking coal mining mountains", reflecting the situation of people in Khanh Hoa commune, Lao Cai province (Dong Quan commune, Luc Yen district, old Yen Bai province), who have had to live miserably for many years because coal mining activities in the area have destroyed residential roads, polluted the environment, buried rivers, streams, and fields.
As soon as they posted, many people living near the mine area continued to provide more photos and clips showing their hard work in the past, and at the same time urgently hoped that the authorities would take action to thoroughly handle it.
Talking to reporters, Ms. Trieu Thi Thu (village 10, Khanh Hoa commune) said that the coal mine has been operating since 2010, but has not caused a big impact before. From around 2023, when there are changes in leadership personnel, coal mines will increase their intensity in large numbers.
Exploitation and transportation activities take place day and night, causing people's lives to be turned upside down, the roads are cramped, the sun is dusty, the rain is muddy, shabby...
Ms. Trieu Thi Hoan (village 10, Khanh Hoa commune) shared that heavy trucks run around, making it unbearable for any road.
Especially young children and students going to school every day, every time it rains, they have to move their pants, put off their sandals, and walk on mud to school. Passing through this road, each student's clothes were sticky and shabby.
"Many times, households have fenced off the road, blocking vehicles from entering and leaving the construction site, demanding that businesses pour rocks and build roads for people to travel.
Even the conflict and fight led to the arrest and sentencing of a young village man for causing injuries. It was all because I was too upset with coal mining activities," Ms. Hoan shared.
The whole village submitted a collective petition
At the end of July, 71 households in village 10, Khanh Hoa commune simultaneously submitted a collective petition to the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa commune and the commune's professional department to request intervention.
According to the petition, the heavy-duty vehicles of Viet Sinh Mineral Exploitation Joint Stock Company (Viet Sinh Company) damaged traffic routes, polluted the environment, and seriously affected people's lives.
The problem is that, despite many petitions, Viet Sinh company always leaves out their ears. In addition, the government has not taken drastic action.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh (in village 10, Khanh Hoa commune) representing the households with the petition said that the people fully support businesses to help develop their homeland.
However, it is necessary to balance economic benefits and the rights of the people. We cannot let people suffer from damaged roads and buried fields for so many years.
Households hope that businesses will listen to opinions, not disappoint promises to the people, immediately overcome shortcomings such as not letting landslides, waste soil and rocks dumped haphazardly into rice fields, rebuilding roads to help people travel conveniently...
Regarding this issue, as soon as the two-level government was in operation, the leaders of Khanh Hoa commune worked with Viet Sinh Mineral Exploitation Joint Stock Company and the people to grasp the situation.
Mr. Hoang Trung Hai - Chairman of Khanh Hoa Commune People's Committee said that at the meeting, the enterprise committed to rebuilding the road, focusing on overcoming shortcomings and limitations for people living near the mine area.
"Among the 71 households on the list, many households have agreed to the Company's plan. The government also recommends that operating enterprises need to comply with the provisions of the law on mineral exploitation, the provisions of the law, ensuring the legitimate rights of the people", Mr. Hai added.
The representative of Viet Sinh Mineral Exploitation Joint Stock Company also said - accepting the opinions of the people at the meeting, the unit is repairing the road.
However, according to Ms. Thanh, the road being built is essentially just a branch road, not too important, mainly serving the travel of Viet Sinh company itself.
"It's good to do that road, but it's not what we expected most. The entire main road from National Highway 70 leading to the village is nearly 3km long and has not been implemented by any unit," Ms. Thanh affirmed.
