Lao Dong Newspaper once reported that the wood gathering point of Sao Viet Company Limited (Thai Binh Commune, Yen Son District, Tuyen Quang Province) was lying haphazardly, without any cover, encroaching on the traffic corridor of National Highway 37, causing danger to people and vehicles.
In addition to the activities of gathering and chopping wood that affect the environment and traffic, this wood factory is said to have been operating illegally for many years without complete legal documents and procedures on land, construction and environmental protection according to regulations.
According to PV's records in mid-November 2024, Sao Viet Company's wood processing factory is located along National Highway 37, with an area of over 2,000 m2, including two structures: a large factory and a wood grinding area, with materials piled up in large piles close to the traffic corridor, protruding onto the roadway and sidewalk.
In the wood crushing area, the machines are operating at full capacity, the rumbling sound echoing throughout the area. Large trucks are waiting to pick up the goods.
Mr. N.V.K (Thai Binh commune, Yen Son) said that the wood workshop has existed and operated for many years. Dust, odor, and noise from processing, gathering, and transporting materials at the wood workshop affect the environment and people's lives.
"In addition to the noise, sometimes the smoke from the factory's operations is also very scary, with a column of black smoke. On days when the weather is still and windy or the wind blows towards residential areas, the pungent smell is unbearable," Mr. K worried.
According to local people, this area was originally agricultural and residential land. Sao Viet Company bought it and then built a factory, installing machinery to chop and grind wood. The factory is located right next to National Highway 37, with large trucks coming and going every day, leading to the risk of traffic accidents.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Nguyen Manh Dung - Chairman of Thai Binh Commune People's Committee - said that the locality had conducted an inspection, and the wood workshop also admitted that gathering near the traffic safety corridor was incorrect and had ordered the cleanup.
"This wood workshop has existed and operated for about 7 years now and has not yet been allocated land. The area used for wood processing and gathering has not been converted to another use according to legal regulations," the Chairman of the People's Committee of Thai Binh commune confirmed.
Also related to the wood workshop activities of Sao Viet Company Limited, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Huan - Chief Inspector of the Department of Transport (GTVT) of Tuyen Quang province - said that immediately after receiving the feedback, the unit coordinated with the commune to inspect and handle the gathering of wood encroaching on the traffic safety corridor.
"The connection of the wood workshop area to Highway 37 is very complicated because the land has belonged to the people for a long time. We are still verifying and checking," Mr. Huan informed.
