"According to the previous directive, the city must report before October 18, but up to now the unit has not sent a report. Recently, the Department has sent an official dispatch urging the report before November 5, but up to now there has been no information" - said a representative of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Cao Bang province.
In document No. 4339/STNMT-QLMT (dated October 31), the Department of Natural Resources and Environment requested the People's Committee of Cao Bang City to report on the results of compliance with environmental protection laws as reflected by Lao Dong Newspaper.
The document content shows that on October 18, Cao Bang City People's Committee organized a field inspection at 2 projects (hospital construction and sand mine - PV).
"However, up to now, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has not received a report from the Cao Bang City People's Committee on the inspection results. In order to have a basis to respond to Lao Dong Newspaper, we request the Cao Bang City People's Committee to urgently complete the inspection report and handle violations (if any) before November 5" - Document No. 4339 stated.
Previously, on October 12, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment sent a document requesting the People's Committee of Cao Bang City to preside over the inspection and coordinate with relevant agencies to promptly handle violations (if any) in accordance with their authority. The inspection results must be reported back to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment before October 18.
The directives were issued after Lao Dong Newspaper published an article "Sand mine and hundred billion project blowing dust in the center of Cao Bang city", reflecting the frustration of Cao Bang city residents when the main road was covered with dirt, rocks, and dust from a construction site of Cao Bang Traditional Medicine Hospital and Dong Tam sand mine.
Accordingly, the Dong Tam sand mine and the Cao Bang Traditional Medicine Hospital construction project have caused pollution by allowing trucks to transport sand and rocks, seriously polluting Vo Nguyen Giap Street - the city's main road. This dusty condition has greatly affected the lives of people in the area.
According to local residents, previously the dust and dirt scattered from truck wheels mainly came from the Dong Tam sand mine, but now there is also mountain dust from the construction of the Cao Bang Province Traditional Medicine Hospital.
Cao Bang Traditional Medicine Hospital is being newly built on a land area of over 3.5 hectares in Song Hien Ward, Cao Bang City. The location of this project is right next to Vo Nguyen Giap Street, so the soil easily sticks to the truck wheels and scatters all over the road, causing dust.
This project is invested by the Cao Bang Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board (PMU). The hospital is built by a joint venture between Song Hong Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company and Thang Long Safety Technology Company Limited.
Dong Tam Hill Sand and Gravel Mine is located in De Tham and Song Hien wards, with a total area of about 7.7 hectares. This mine is managed and exploited by Vietnam Natural Stone and Minerals Company Limited.
