Intensive sand mining is going on illegally everyday in Thanh Hoa Province, notably from the Ma River. However, local authorities seem to have little control over the situation.
According to DTiNews' observation, there are dozens of boats using machines to suck sand from both ends of Kieu Bridge at Yen Truong Commune, Yen Dinh District and Vinh Ninh Commune, Vinh Loc District.
A boat removing sand at the foot of Kieu Bridge
Sand mining activities at Kieu Street in Yen Truong Commune are busy on a large scale with noisy machines and vehicles disturbing local people. However, more seriously, this action negatively influences Kieu bridge’s safety.
The government invested VND12 billion ($622,000) in 2009 towards building a dyke for a part of the Ma River passing through Kieu Street. While the dyke is under construction, sand mining is carried out right at the foot of the bridge.
It takes only about 15 minutes to collect a boatload of sand which is then gathered and sold along both sides of the river and Kieu bridge.
Sand mining has raised a concern about environmental pollution, changes in water flow and safety of the bridge as well as the construction of the dyke at Ma River.
Going down along the river towards Dinh Tan Commune, Yen Dinh District and Vinh Hung Commune, Vinh Loc District, there are hundreds more of boats that keep absorbing sand day and night from the middle of the rivers.
However, many are shocked that local authorities seem to know nothing of this illegal action.
Dam Quang Thuong, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Yen Truong Commune said in awe: “I have no idea about the illegal exploitation and never checked. Probably, the river becomes dried out this year so people take the opportunity to mine the sand. If it’s true, the commune should take responsibility.”
In fact, the headquarters of the committee are located only 500 metres away from where the sand is being taken.
Although many boats go back and forth to carry sand on the other side of the river, local authorities of Vinh Ninh Commune, Vinh Loc District, denied the fact until DTiNews requested that they visit the scene and that they should start taking action. However, their ineffective solutions cannot resolve the problem.
Nguyen Dang Lanh, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Yen Dinh District explained: “Responsibility is not assigned clearly so it’s difficult for us to manage. They can earn much more money than administrative penalties they have to pay so they keep taking the sand.”
According to Phung Dinh Anh, Director of the Mineral Resources Division under the Department of Natural Resources & Environment of Thanh Hoa, the demand of sand is increasing not only in Thanh Hoa but also in Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh while supply is limited. No new legal sand mining licences have been issuded for a long time. That is one of reason why they try to mine the sand illegally. "The Department of Natural Resources & Environment alone cannot prevent this situation, but we need support from other relevant government bodies," he said.
Sand dunes near the Kieu Bridge located at Phi Binh Hamlet, Vinh Ninh Commune, Vinh Loc District
