Hanoi struggles to tackle illegal sand mining
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Hanoi is planning to take control
of illegal sand mining that is threatening the stability of agricultural
production and the environment in and around the city.
The capital currently has four authorised
sand mines, but illegal exploitation is rife in the outlying districts of
Phuc Tho, Ba Vi and Dong Anh, Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper
reported.
In early May, several sand dredges were
seen brazenly operating on the Hong (Red) River in Phuc Tho district. The mining has been slowly eating away at agricultural
land in Van Ha commune.
People in Dai Mach commune, Dong Anh district, are facing a similar situation. The issue has been persisting for more than a
decade and has changed the Red River’s flow. Hundreds of fruit trees have been swept away while
landslides have destroyed residential land, posing a threat to
locals.
Although the problem has been reported to
authorities several times, nothing has been done.
The People’s Committee of Dong Anh district said it was
difficult to catch miners in the act. This passive response has allowed the crime
to continue.
At the end of May, Hanoi Water Police uncovered
two cases of illegal sand mining in Cam Thuong commune, Ba Vi district, and Van
Ha commune, Phuc Tho district.
However, according to experts, they were just
the tip of the iceberg, and simply patrolling the river was not
enough to deter illegal sand miners.
A representative from the Department of Natural
Resources and Environment said the city had not renewed
mining licences for some time.
There had been ten mines with valid
licences, but one had been suspended as the owner violated the law on
natural resources and the other five had yet to
start operations due to lack of road access.
Authorities had approved five other sand
mines in Ba Vi and Bac Tu Liem districts and planned to organise auctions for
the exploitation rights for these mines in the third quarter of
2019.-VNS/VNA