Illegal mineral exploitation threatens Cao Bang water resources

Illegal mineral exploitation cases appear continuously

According to records in early June, the People's Committee of Hoa An district is coordinating with functional agencies to handle the case of the owner of the Giang Son sand mine (Giang Son Cooperative) digging and treating the Bang River bank. This location is outside the scope of the exploitation licensed enterprise.

Previously, on the afternoon of May 22, a working group of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment and the People's Committee of Dan Chu commune inspected the Giang Son sand mine site.

At the inspection, the authorities recorded that the mine owner showed signs of sand mining outside the licensed area. The above moves were taken after Lao Dong Newspaper reported that the situation of Giang Son sand mine exploiting outside the licensed scope caused the Bang River to become muddy. People in Dan Chu commune are upset when many sections of the river are dug up and seriously encroach on the banks.

On May 15 and 16, the reporter noted that in Mo Sat hamlet and Ban Ma hamlet (Dan Chu commune), sand mining was taking place vigorously. The water of the Bang River changes to turbid white due to excavation activities, the flow is affected by temporary embankments being built. At the scene, two excavators and a small boat were operating continuously.

Notably, excavators not only exploit sand but also dig deep into the hillside near the riverbank, revealing gray and black layers of rock and soil - the mineral then transported to the main quarry for grinding. This is what causes the river water to change color to almost the color of c golf.

Previously, on January 17, the People's Committee of Hoa An district discovered that Su Pan 1 Hydropower Joint Stock Company was exploiting sand and gravel in the riverbed in Le Chung commune despite the expiration of the exploitation permit as confirmed by the People's Committee of Cao Bang province, with a term of until September 30, 2024.

Many consequences arise

It is worth mentioning that after the exploitation period, businesses here have exploited thousands of cubic meters of sand. According to the reporter's investigation, regarding this incident, the People's Committee of Cao Bang province has issued a decision to impose an administrative penalty No. 596/QD-XPHC (May 8, 2025). The unit directly responsible for this illegal exploitation is Tuan Minh Son Trading Service Company Limited (located in Lang Son City). This enterprise was administratively fined VND 350 million for illegally exploiting 937.63m3 of sand in the area of the Pac Khuoi hydropower project under construction.

The violating enterprise was also forced to pay nearly 8.5 million VND in measurement fees to the Center for Natural Resources and Environment Monitoring. According to Decision 596, Tuan Minh Son Trading Service Company Limited does not have to remedy the consequences.

Thus, it can be seen that in just the first 5 months of the year, illegal mineral exploitation cases have occurred consecutively in Hoa An district, Cao Bang province. This has left many consequences when illegal sand mining occurs in the area at the headwaters of the Hien River and Bang River.

These rivers all flow through many residential areas and are also the main water source for domestic water supply plants for the whole city of Cao Bang. At the exploitation point in Pac Khuoi Hydropower Plant, downstream is the Level 1 Pumping Station of Tan An Water Plant (Cao Bang Water Supply Company Limited), with a capacity of 10,000m3/day and night, providing 50% of the domestic and domestic water source for people and businesses in Cao Bang City.

A resident of Le Chung commune said: "They have been doing it en masse since the beginning of this year. For example, in Pac Hao Na Phin hamlet, they bought some plots of rice fields from local people near the riverbank to make sand. Wherever they work, the river water is as muddy as it is, the people's domestic water is affected".