Nearly 500 people participate in enforcement, reclaiming over 60 hectares of encroached lagoon
After a long period of propaganda and mobilization, on May 13, the People's Committee of Tien Hai district (Thai Binh province) organized a enforcement team to handle violations and force the remediation of consequences for an area of over 60 hectares of aquaculture land in Con Vanh area, Nam Phu commune.
According to the People's Committee of Tien Hai district, although the authorities from the province, district and commune have repeatedly propagated, discussed and issued decisions on administrative sanctions, up to now, dozens of individuals related to 8 lagoons with over 60 hectares of aquaculture land in Con Vanh area have not yet handed over the site to the locality.
On April 17, the People's Committee of Thai Binh province issued a plan to enforce the implementation of remedial measures against 19 individuals who violated the encroachment of aquaculture land in the above area.
After being propagandized and organized for dialogue, explanation and persuasion by all levels and sectors of Tien Hai district and Nam Phu commune, by the end of May 12, only 5/19 individuals had voluntarily dismantled the violating constructions. The remaining 14 violators still deliberately do not take remedial measures for the works violating land.
According to Lao Dong reporters, since early morning on May 13, waterways and roads leading to the land enforcement locations in Con Vanh area have been blocked off by the authorities, with signs and zoning areas for enforcement.
After carrying out procedures to announce the enforcement decision and relevant legal regulations, some violators voluntarily moved assets out of the enforcement area, the working groups drew up a record of enforcement to implement remedial measures.
The enforcement board of Tien Hai district established 4 teams, mobilized 4 excavators and workers to demolish the violating works. At the same time, direct the enforcement forces to resolutely dismantle all illegal constructions of individuals who did not voluntarily dismantle to restore the original state in the Con Vanh lagoon area.
Restoring discipline and order to develop Thai Binh Economic Zone
Speaking with Lao Dong reporter, Mr. Bui Tuan Anh - Vice Chairman of Tien Hai District People's Committee - said: In 1991, Nam Phu Commune People's Committee leased over 60 hectares of land to Mr. Pham Hoai Nam (residing in Giao Thien Commune, Giao Thuy District, Nam Dinh Province) and Mr. Dinh Quang Nghi (residing in Nam Phu Commune, Tien Hai District, Thai Binh Province) to build a shrimp farming area under the Ramsar program.
In 2002, when the contract expired, the People's Committee of Nam Phu commune continued to sign an extension of the contract with Mr. Nam and Mr. Nghi.
In 2023, the People's Committee of Nam Phu commune issued a notice to unilaterally terminate the contract with Mr. Nam and Mr. Nghi's inheritance lines because Mr. Nam and Nghi (when alive) seriously violated their contract obligations and did not comply with the committed agreement.
From 2007 to present, individuals have not followed the approved technical design but have only been coated with rice fields for aquaculture; have not directly used the lagoon area to follow the Ramsar model but have arbitrarily leased it to other individuals for aquaculture.
After the households refused to hand over the land and continued to keep it for aquaculture, the People's Committee of Nam Phu commune drew up a record of administrative violations on March 18, 2024 against Mr. Nam and Mr. Nghi's heirs.
On April 1, 2024, the Chairman of Thai Binh Provincial People's Committee issued decisions to sanction administrative violations of the act of occupying the above land for aquaculture.
Disagreeing with the penalty decision of the Chairman of the Thai Binh Provincial People's Committee, the households first complained to the Thai Binh Provincial People's Committee, then complained to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment).
On April 2, 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment also issued a decision to resolve complaint No. 586/QD-BNNMT with the content of affirming that authorities at all levels from communes to provinces in Thai Binh have taken steps to handle land violations in accordance with the procedures and regulations of the law.
"According to all records and documents related to the incident, Mr. Nam and Mr. Nghi, while still alive, and Mr. Nghi's heirs, seriously violated economic contracts. First, these people do not directly raise shrimp according to the technical design documents of the Ramsar program. Second, although there is no decision to allocate land by the authorities, these people arbitrarily rented the aquaculture ponds to many other individuals for profit for many years and did not pay taxes or products to the State.
Although the district and commune have repeatedly organized dialogues, propaganda and mobilization, individuals have not yet handed over the violating land, dismantled constructions and assets on the violating land. Therefore, we are forced to enforce the recovery of violating land to serve the development of Thai Binh Economic Zone in accordance with the planning approved by the Prime Minister", Mr. Bui Tuan Anh - Vice Chairman of Tien Hai District People's Committee - affirmed.
